This Number 7 is Anything But Lucky

Karen Johns for SooNews.ca
Thursday, April 17, 2008, 3:42PM

The amount of plastic containers that we use everyday may be hazardous to our health.

It is expected that Canada will soon classify Bisphenol A as a toxic agent, and either ban the chemical altogether or require minimum amounts for use in food containers.

BPA is used to make polycarbonate plastic, which holds products that we consume on a regular basis.

Many retail outlets aren't waiting for the governments ruling, they are pulling products which are made with this chemical off the shelves.
The list of products that may be affected is a long one.

It includes bottles containing soft drinks and bottled water, baby bottles and sippy cups,pacifiers, tin cans (which are lined with bisphenol A), large water cooler jugs and so on. Microwavable dishes and utensils can also leach BPA into food.

*Bisphenol A is a molecule that mimics estrogen and can leach from from containers into the products that are stored in them. Rodents who have been injected with the chemical have developed hormonal dysfunction and tumours, and scientists believe long-term exposure in humans could lead in some cases to infertility, early puberty, and even breast and prostate cancers.*

When BPA is used as a liner for cans which contain fruit and vegatables even more amounts are released due to the acidic content.Hot water and washing can also cause BPA to leach into products.

Most but not all products which are made with BPA are stamped with a number seven surrounded by a triangle.

According to one health news site there are a few things you can do to minimize the amount of BPA that you and your family are exposed to.

They include:

Replacing plastic food and drink containers and utensils with glass, ceramic or metal varieties.

Purchasing glass baby bottles.

Using baby bottles and sippy cups made of polyethylene plastic (#1, #2, #4 recycling symbols) or polypropylene (#5) (these are usually colored, not clear, and should still not be heated).

Not using canned foods or foods wrapped in plastic.

Not letting children put plastic toys in their mouths.

Being careful with BPA-containing plastics, if you choose to use them. This means not exposing them to heat (microwave, dishwasher) or harsh detergents (bleach, etc.) and not letting food or beverages sit in the containers for too long.

It may not be possible to totally eliminate all BPA exposure but to be safe you should try , especially if you have young children.

Scientists worry about the effect that BPA could have on babies and young children because they are especially vulnerable to pollutants and toxins.
Their brains and bodies are still developing which causes their cells to divide more quickly than those of adults.

So do yourself and your family a favor and look for the number seven on your plastic containers. In this case it is not a lucky number!

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