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I can hardly believe the number of studies funded by chemical and drug companies, which fund research designed to justifying their drugs and poisons when mountains of unbiased research demonstrates otherwise. The strategy is clear.  Muddy the waters.  Present "reasonable doubt" and thereby justify the continued use of your products for as long as you can make money, and disregard the casualties of your business endeavors.

Bisphenol A (BPA) was invented in the 1930s during the search for synthetic estrogens.  Each year, over 6 billion tons of BPA are used to make polycarbonate plastics. The chemical bonds that BPA forms in plastic can unravel when heated, washed or exposed to acidic foods(like soda pop), prompting the chemical to contaminate foods and drink. And while the plastic industry fails to see the need for alarm regarding the health impact of this chemical, researchers with no ties to the industry beg to differ.

There is a growing mountain of evidence showing the dangers of BPA (biphenol-A).  According to several recent studies (94 of them), polycarbonate plastic readily leaches the chemical BPA into foods and liquids that are stored in containers made from them.  BPA has been identified as an endocrine disrupting chemical, or a chemical that easily mimics hormones when absorbed by the human body.  In the case of BPA, the hormone being mimicked is estrogen.  Your body is extremely sensitive to sex hormones, and miniscule amounts can induce profound changes.  Since BPA imitates estrogen, scientists are afraid even low levels of BPA can have a very strong negative impact including:  Hyperactivity, Early Puberty, Increased Fat Formation, Abnormal Sexual Behavior, Disrupted Reproductive Cycles, PMS, Menopausal Symptoms and Structural Damage to the Brain.  Exposure to BPA has been shown to promote prostate tumors, affect breast tissue development and enlarge fat cells.  Cancer has repeatedly been linked to even small amounts of BPA.  Far too many people suffering from hormonal imbalances.  Toxins are stored in the fat cells of the body in an effort to protect the rest of the body.  Often your inability to lose weight (fat), is the body trying to protect itself from these toxins being released from the fat cells.

How come this isn't being broadcast from every news station?  Why isn't the Surgeon General's warning emblazoned on all plastic containers?  The answers are not that simple.  The discovery and development of plastics has revolutionized the world we live in.  I would say that not a day goes by that we are not constantly exposed to some form of hydrocarbon (plastic).  Plastics have largely replaced the ceramic/pottery/glass industry.  While many of us continue to favor ceramic dishware and glasses made of glass, much of the population has opted for plastics in all of its unbreakable varieties.  

While the corporate economy-driven community turns a blind eye and deaf ear to the dangers of chlorine, the world of plastics seems to show some signs of responsibility.  While the dangers of plastic has certainly been under the radar of the mainstream media, many manufacturers have stopped using the worst plastics proven to cause health risks and have switched to plastics that do not appear to leach out chemicals such as bisphenol-A (BPA). 

A controversy regarding the safety of low-dose effects of bisphenol-A (BPA), a chemical used to make hard, clear plastics such as those found in baby bottles, food-storage containers and the lining of aluminum soda cans, has reached the forefront in America.  It seems that the hard clear or tinted plastics are the most suspect and dangerous.

Despite the warnings, polycarbonate plastics continue to be used in a wide variety of products including food storage cans, dental sealants and the Nalgene Lexan bottles.  The irony is that the hazard may actually come from the material that makes these bottles so attractive. Lexan polycarbonate resin, a plastic polymer accidentally developed by General Electric in 1953, was and still is a revolutionary material. It's been used in a variety of products over the last four decades including compact discs and DVDs, bulletproof windows, mobile phones, computers, baby bottles and water bottles.

In 1998, it was discovered that plastics made from polycarbonate resin can leach bisphenol-A (BPA), a potent hormone disruptor in to foods and liquids. BPA, a chemical found in epoxy resin and polycarbonate plastics, may impair the reproductive organs and have adverse effects on tumors, breast tissue development and prostate development by reducing sperm count.

BPA can be leached into the water bottles contents through normal wear and tear, exposure to heat and cleaning agents. This includes leaving your plastic water bottle in your car during errands, in your backpack during hikes and running it through your dishwasher and using harsh detergents. Detectable levels of BPA are even leached into liquids at room temperature. This means just having your plastic water bottle sitting on your desk can be potentially harmful. The best thing to do is to avoid plastic altogether. (Side note: baby bottles made from polycarbonate plastics have quietly disappeared from the market despite industry assurances that polycarbonate plastics are safe)

Another group of chemicals associated with plastics are Phthalates.  Phthalates are used to lengthen the life of fragrances (which is why perfumes can be so chemically obnoxious to some of us) and to soften plastics.  Plastic wrap, plastic baggies, as well as bottles and food storage containers can leach phthalates into our food.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration does not have a safety limit for BPA on foodstuffs, so the government is not looking out for you on this one.

There are two approaches to take to avoid exposure to BPA. First, if you are active and take water with you, switch to a stainless steel water bottle. But, be careful. Many products on the market are lined with an epoxy finish. This defeats the purpose. Make sure that the bottle is stainless steel both inside and out. Stainless steel water bottles are light, durable and hold both hot and cold liquids well. There's a wonderful stainless steel water bottle called the Klean Kanteen.  It's available in a 27oz and a 40oz size and is available at www.greenfeet.com.

The second approach is to reuse glass containers such as quart sized juice bottles. Yes, they are a bit heavier but are good solutions if you're in an office environment where mobility isn't an issue.

Not all plastic is suspect at this time.  One way to identify the type of plastic is by the recycling symbol on the bottom of the container.  Polycarbonate plastic bottles such as the colorful Nalgene Lexan bottles will have #7 within the recycling symbol.  Better options include polypropylene (#5 PP), high density polyethylene (#2 HDPE), and low density polyethylene (#4 LDPE).  No evidence at this time has been found that #5, #2, and #4 plastics leach toxic materials.

The only real way to prevent toxins from collecting in your body in the first place is to avoid exposure to them. Here are some things you can do. 

There are numerous methods that can be used to help detoxify and cleanse your body, and they vary in cost, time and efficacy. I tend to gravitate toward the treatments that are simple, effective, inexpensive and don't involve taking a lot of supplements.

The treatments below fit all of these criteria, and can be incorporated into your daily life. They all work to support your body's natural detoxification systems, namely your digestive system, liver, kidneys, lungs and skin.

Sadly, I have had to apply the adage; "If in doubt, throw it out".  If a plastic container is not labeled with #2HDPE, #5 PP, or #4LDPE I've thrown it out.  The clear hard plastic water bottles, like the 3 to 5 gallon bottle that bottled water is delivered in are typically #7 Polycarbonate and will leach out biphenol-A.  The older the container and the more it has been cleaned the greater the potential that it is leaching BPA.

As of this writing (DEC 2005) many of the food storage containers such as Glad™ and Ziplock™ (not the flexible baggies), are made of #5PP (polypropylene) and seem to be okay as far as BPA.  Of course, you should never microwave food that is in a plastic container, wrapper, bowl or plate.  The high frequency heat of microwave readily breaks down plastic and drives it into your food.

I know that what I am suggesting here is terribly inconvenient.  But the more I search and the deeper I dig, the more this information is validated in the scientific literature.  I'm convinced that toxicity from chlorine and plastics are a major problem.  But like many health issues today, it is slow to cause damage or illness.  It is difficult enough that we have to read ingredient labels, but now I'm telling you that your organic ketchup may be in a toxic plastic bottle.  (Actually most of the organic products have caught on to this and are using the #2, #4, or #5 containers).  I'm also saying that drinking distilled or reverse osmosis water can be harmful if it is kept in the wrong bottle (most "disposable" water bottles are #1).

If you or someone you love struggles with hormone related issues, such as PMS, Menopausal symptoms, weakened immune system, inability to lose weight (when your exercising and eating healthy), you should consider the evidence that suggest that these hormone mimicking chemicals resulting from plastics and chlorine can be playing a role.  I realize the changes I'm suggesting are huge.  I know, I'm in the process of making them myself.  If this strikes a chord with you as it has me, research this on your own.  I'd love to be proven wrong.

~ Dr. Kyle D. Christensen D.C. ~