BPA or Bisphenol A is a synthetic estrogen found in plastic containers, particularly baby bottles. In many countries, its use is prohibited due to possible harmful effects on health – this substance can provoke endocrine system disorders and oncology. Psychologies has figured out how to keep yourself safe.
Until a few years ago, few people had heard of Bisphenol A (BPA). The alarm has been sounded in Canada: a scientific study found that 90% of Canadian baby milk bottles release large amounts of BPA, especially when heated. This chemical compound is also part of the materials used to make reusable bottles, plastic dishes (plates and cups) and containers for canned foods. In addition, it coats the inside of beverage cans and canned food boxes, as it prevents food from oxidizing. In addition to making food containers, it has long been used in dentistry to create fillings. In addition, it is found in many other everyday items such as eyeglass frames, CDs, and ballpoint pens.
“Studies show that the offspring of mice fed this substance developed breast and prostate cancer in adulthood, and the ability of males to reproduce was reduced,” says Patrick Fenichel, head of the Department of Endocrinology and Reproductive Medicine. Medicine at the University Hospital of Nice (France).
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In another study, injecting very low doses of BPA into cancer cells taken from human male testicles caused the cells to multiply rapidly. The same was observed with cancer cells of the breast, prostate, ovaries and uterus.
Scientists from the National Institute of Agronomic Research in Toulouse administered BPA to rats orally. He had a strong effect on them: the patency of the intestines decreased, he became more sensitive to pain, the number of inflammations of the large intestine increased. Experts are concerned about the fact that the doses used in the experiments were very small. “All of these effects are observed when BPA is administered at 10 times the allowable daily dose defined by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA),” emphasizes Eric Houdeau, study leader from the French National Institute of Agronomic Research in Toulouse.
And the last observation related to newborns. Babies who received bisphenol in the womb and during breastfeeding have been observed to lag behind in intestinal development. In adulthood, they had more pronounced intestinal inflammation.
According to the EFSA, the allowable daily dose of bisphenol should not exceed 0,05 mg per 1 kg of body weight. The problem is that scientific studies have shown the harmful effects of BPA at lower doses. “This substance can already be found in our bodies,” said Bernard Jegou, director of the French Institute for Health, Environment and Labor Research. “For example, BPA is present in the urine of 90% of Americans and is also found in breast milk.” In Nice, scientists have identified BPA in umbilical cord blood. “We did tests for three years and found that in 90% of cases, bisphenol was present in the umbilical cord at a concentration of 1 to 5 nanograms,” says Patrick Fenishel.
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How to protect yourself from BPA:
1. Find a triangle made up of arrows on the bottle. Is there a 7 in the triangle? So the plastic contains BPA. The numbers 3 (PVC), 6 (styrene) or no numbers also indicate the presence of BPA. Materials that do not contain BPA are marked with triangles with the numbers 1, 2, 4 or 5.
2. Limit your consumption of epoxy-coated canned foods or beverages. In particular, the use of infant formula in such containers should be avoided.
3. Be careful not to overheat:
- plastic containers in the microwave, even if they say you can do it.
- cans in a water bath.
4. Try not to use the container for purposes other than those for which it was intended. For example, do not pour cooking oil into a water bottle.