AMA joins BPA fight

At its annual meeting this month, the American Medical Association adopted a policy urging that BPA-containing products be clearly identified.

BPA, or bisphenol-A, is an estrogen-like chemical that is used in many hard clear plastic products and in the linings of some food and beverage containers, including some:

  • Baby bottles and sippy cups
  • Reusable plastic bottles and food containers;
  • Drink and food cans;
  • Dental sealants;
  • Cash-register receipts.

New research suggests that we have underestimated our dietary exposure to BPA.

When a container made with BPA is heated, the chemical leaches into the food. When you eat that food the chemical goes into your body where it could cause a range of health problems:

  • Breast and prostate cancer,
  • Heart disease and diabetes,
  • Obesity, and
  • Autism, learning disorders and early puberty in children.

 

I have been sounding the alarm about the dangers of bisphenol-A for several years, and have introduced bills to remove this potentially harmful chemical from infant and toddler products in Pennsylvania. My latest bill, H.B. 192, is in the House Health Committee, but the chairman refuses to move the bill out of committee and send it to the full House for a vote

To reduce the amount of BPA in your body:

  • Use fresh foods instead of canned products whenever possible.
  • Avoid polycarbonates – plastics marked with recycling code #7 or the letters "PC."
  • Look for plastics with recycling labels #1, #2, and #4 as they do not contain BPA.
  • Avoid putting any plastic containers in the microwave.
  • Wash all plastic containers on the top shelf of your dishwasher or by hand.
  • Look for stainless steel reusable water bottles that do not have a liner as some metal bottles lined with an epoxy-based enamel coating could leach BPA.