BPA free plastic bottles have a hidden danger

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July 11, 2012 by  
Filed under Dangerous Chemicals, Science News

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Thu. July 12, 2012

(NaturalHealth365) Avoiding Bisphenol A, (BPA) the endocrine-disrupting chemical found in plastics, has become easier than ever thanks to concerned bottle manufacturers. BPA was used in the 1930’s as an artificial estrogen to not only fatten poultry and cattle, but as a form of estrogen replacement for women. But, there is good reason to be concerned with “BPA free” plastic bottles.

In the 1940’s, Bayer and General Electric used BPA to harden polycarbonate plastics and make epoxy resin. From there it went on to find its way into everyday consumer foods – such as epoxy resin liners for canned foods, beverage containers including milk, juice and soda bottles and even many water pipes.

Don’t trust the “safety” of BPA (and BPA free) plastic bottles

The release of BPA is related to water temperature and it is released 55 times more rapidly in hot water. Did you know that bottles that were nine years old release the same amount of BPA as new bottles? BPA has been shown to be an estrogen-like chemical and can cause estrogen dependent cancers; breast and prostrate cancers are both associated with BPA along with fertility problems.

Here’s the problem with the new BPA-free bottles: they may contain biodegradable plastic substitutes (BPS), or other similar toxic chemicals that have NOT been mentioned by the manufacturers. BPS appears to have similar hormone-mimicking characteristics, which are similar to BPA. Do you think we should wait for an industry study for safety results?

Biodegradable plastics are worse on the environment

There is even some evidence that BPS shows a relative inability to biodegrade, which may mean that once it is absorbed into the human body it may stay for a longer period of time. In addition, it is more likely to persist in the environment making external exposure to these toxic fumes – more common place.

The industry has offered a tweaked molecule in BPS, which could turn out to be as bad or worst than BPA. These new versions haven’t been tested enough to see how they perform, which means they haven’t been tested in contact with boiling water, dishwashers or in every day use.

Proper testing is essential to protect public health

Pete Myers, CEO and chief scientist for Environment Health Sciences said BPS hasn’t been scrutinized as heavily as BPA. Under the existing laws, companies can introduce chemicals into the marketplace without providing any safety data, leaving the government the burden of proving a substance is toxic. In the United States, government agencies in charge of public health – don’t conduct proper safety testing of new materials for consumer products before they come to market.

There is also Bisphenol AF, BPK, Bisphenol C, Bisphenol DK F, G, M, S, PH, TMC, and Z waiting in line to be used. So swapping out BPS for another similar substance may not be the best policy.

Short of becoming a cave dweller, the only sane course of action is to use natural containers for food and buy fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables. The Environmental Working Group has stated, “BPA is at unsafe levels in one of every 10 servings of canned foods – that’s 11 percent and one of every 3 cans of infant formula (33 percent).

Unfortunately, it is becoming harder to avoid plastics since they are accessible and convenient. While glass, stainless steel, ceramic, and wood are better choices, many people still like the convenience and price of plastic.

However, when you consider the price to our health, the job of substituting more natural products shouldn’t seem overwhelming or confusing. It may not seem super simple to discard plastic bottles, toys and convenient plastic food storage containers – but it’s bad medicine to keep using them.

How do you avoid the use of plastic bottles? Post your ideas and comments below.

About the author: Blanche Levine has been a student of natural healing modalities for the last 25 years. She had the privilege of working with some of the greatest minds in Natural Healing including Naturopaths, Scientist, and Energy Healers. Having seen people miraculously heal from all kinds of dis-ease through non-invasive methods, her passion now is to help people become aware of what it takes to be healthy.

http://www.audubonmagazine.org/articles/living/green-guru-how-safe-are-bpa-alternatives

http://www.health.ny.gov/environmental/chemicals/bisphenol_a/index.htm

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/243626.php/

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/238157.php/

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Comments

  • Reta

    I have a Berkey water filter, and for the last 10 years, have used only glass or stainless steel. Only in desperation will I buy anything sold in plastic. No canned foods, and meals are from scratch; pots on the balcony supply herbs and small veggies.

  • Dee

    Do you know if Function Water bottles have bpa or not. I am hoping it does not contain this chemical. I do not buy the typical water bottles.

  • robin

    I store all of my food in hot/cold canning jars in 1/2 pint, pint and quart sizes. I use gallon glass jugs to store bulk items, use pickle jars. When I shop for items that do not come in glass containers I tell the store manager that I will no longer buy these products unless they become available in glass containers, and, of course I tell him why. More important is to avoid plastic containers all together by purchasing whole foods and avoiding all foods that are processed.

  • Susan

    What brand of bottle is safe? There are some made of corn. Are these safe. Or how about stainless steel?

  • Rev. Nagi Mato

    Trust the government? Really? Yeah, right!

  • terry grizzelle

    so, the plastic blue Berkey is dangerous, yes… wish I had read your article before purchasing 2 last year. have not used, continue to buy distilled currently, planning to begin making own distilled soon, but storage in 55gallon drums, which are also a no, no,correct. so, what are the informed doing?

  • Ricky Walls

    Scary part is this is all likely a full circle attempt to push more of us to big pharma dependency. No worries, we have a pill for that.

  • Megan

    I’ve been replacing my plastic with glass and stainless for about 2 years as I can afford it. One piece at a time if I have to. done with kitchen. Got small sport bottle for all 3 of us over winter. now just need big one for me as I take a lot of water with me everywhere. won’t drink city water so need to carry well water. hubby doesn’t care that much and kid is 2months so baby bottle that goes to toddler sippy then to sport bottle by organickidz.com does all we need for her now. of course breastfeeding as it is God’s way!

  • Janelle Lear

    Try to stay away from plastic water bottles whenever possible. I have a stainless steel bottle instead…if you don’t think plastics are bad just walk through the toy department at walmart – it stinks!

  • Sam

    Glas has been being sprayed with chemicals for over 10 years, some say 60 years. I have been in a plant recently and witnessed this. I have sent this information to EWG, Mercola, Natural News and Rodale several month ago. The patents are there, however, the Corning patent I had easily searched, was removed within 24 hrs, so they are watching. Also, Newer stainless steel pans are not pure, right?, if they pit within a year? I assume this is much like GMO being seeded in wildlands—no wildlife is going to purchase it, just like no glass manufacturer brags about spraying the jars with chemicals—no marketing advantage, no reason for the expenditure….except, for those trying to eat clean. So the wildlife is gmo contaminated for us as well. Sorry for the negative ninny—but truth is what we are after. All American made canning jars are sprayed, down to the glass personal care products. If you look, you will see it, and that is the kicker—we all didn’t want to know it. The dry rough buffing where bottles meet each other—doesn’t happen anymore. Take a large half gallon or gallon glass jar, clean, set it in good light—see the ripples?

  • eddie

    Sam,

    Got any more detail on what chemicals are being sprayed on glass, where it is occurring and how we can verify this? Thanks.

  • Rina von Oppenheimer

    Many years ago, when the water bottles become norm, I lived in Atlanta, it was Summer. I had left my water bottle in the car for a couple of days. I took a sip and could taste the plastic. That was the last time I drank out of a plastic bottle. I switched over to glass bottles and still use them today. I buy that Swedish water in a bottle and when that water is finished, I refill with my own, filtered and reverse osmosis water. I have four bottles that I rotate and have at the ready. All my pots and pans are over 20 years old and all my pans are old cast iron pans, which I adore. I do not have a plastic container in the house. I use those wonderful canning jars from Italy.

  • Stella

    so the nutrabullet that david wolfe reccomends is not good ! it says bpa free and yet it’s dangerous !! whoaaaaaa

  • The Madame

    I switched everything in m house to glass and my ice cube trays are 18/8 stainless steel, my ice cube bin in freezer is a stainless steel bread loaf pan. We have a 5 stage reverse osmosis water filtration system under the kitchen sink since it removes perchlorate(rocket fuel), fluoride(95-98%) & pharmaceuticals that are in the water, we add about 1/4 teaspoon of Himalayan Pink Salt to remineralize 64 ounces water.

    I always keep 2 glass 64 ounce pitchers in the fridge with water. I buy all organic whole foods/produce and switched over all body care/personal care to organic or ingredients I can understand that do not contain petrochemicals.

    All pots and pans are stainless steel NO non stick coated pans, not even the new ones that claim to be safe. Use only organic coconut oil to cook(one of the only oils that won’t break down under high heat unlike olive oil) and use higher heat to avoid sticking.

  • Janet

    Are “Nalgene” bottles safe?

  • terry

    some of us are late but still joining the informed .. also, maintaining an emotional equilibrium is equally important in health maintenance.. afraid nalgene also not so good for us, right. back to plastic Berkey… I can use the filter then store in stainless steel??? now glass is contaminated.. goodness

  • robin

    Rina, if you cook with cast iron pans please check your iron levels. Last year I had my ferritin iron tested. It was off the wall high. I stopped cooking with my cast iron pots and it dropped down to normal. High iron levels are dangerous and so is cooking with cast iron. If you insist on using it then do yourself a favor and test your ferritin levels.

  • mary

    I read a glass scientist’s post in the last few months. He stated that there is a patent for glass that is chemical free– he said that all glass being manufactured is not pure, has arsenic, etc., in it. I also read somewhere that recycled glass can have mercury and other heavy metals in it.

    What about Tritan? It is represented as not being a hormone disruptor.

  • ConcernedChemist

    As of 2011, all USA produced infant formula cans do not contain BPA.

    Not sure where this author came up with BPS, in general, all food contact coatings are moving towards polyster based chemistry. Substitution of various bis-phenyl based rings was acknowledged as not acceptable many years ago.

    According to this article, 1 in 10 serverings are not safe…thus 9 in 10 are safe even under the most stringent conditions.

    Many manufacturers are moving away from BPA due to public pressure. Campbells is an example of a publicized changer.
    But did you know all of the USA produced tuna cans are already lined with non BPA coatings and have been for 10+ years. It’s the imported cans that have BPA. Just because a can isn’t labelled as BPA free, doesn’t mean it has it.

    Also, as a relative comparison, steel containers comply with CONEG regulations, i.e. less than 100 ppm of cadmium, chrome, lead and mercury while the amount of BPA in an epoxy coating is usually less than 100 ppb (1000 times lower).


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