Approximately 93% of US citizens test positive for this toxin and yet you’re probably still wondering: “WHAT IS BPA?”
BPA stands for Bisphenol A. It is a highly toxic industrial chemical, a form of synthetic estrogen developed in the 1930’s. Since the 1960’s, the food and beverage industries have been using it in massive quantities to create metal-based cans, hard plastics, resins and lacquers.
BPS, or Bisphenol S, has been slowly replacing BPA in manufacturing. However, it is similar to BPA and many experts question whether BPS is any safer than its predecessor.
We are exposed to the chemical duo BPA and BPS almost everywhere we go, but these toxins enter our bodies in the greatest quantity through our diets. 
Exposure to BPA begins at birth, when we are bottle feed with BPA/BPS-laden products and BPA/BPS-positive breast milk. A urine survey of more than 2,500 subjects ages six and up confirmed the presence of BPA in 93% of participants. Experts believe that this shocking number is indicative of the United States population at large.
A recent test of BPS in paper goods from several countries that included the United States and Japan held startling news:
- RECEIPT PAPER – 100% tested positive for BPS.
- PAPER CURRENCY – 87% tested positive for BPS.
- RECYCLED PAPER – 52% tested positive for BPS.
This means higher exposure of this chemical through your skin than ever before! Researchers estimate you’re exposed to 19% more BPA substitute (BPS) than you might have been when BPA was at the height of its use over the last 40 years. If you handle thermal paper products, like receipt paper, on a regular basis, you are absorbing BPA even faster!
Where can you find BPA?
- Food cans and bottle tops
- Plastic storage containers
- Plastic utensils, plates and cups
- Water bottles
- Baby bottles
- Plastic toys
- Medical supplies and equipment
- Dental compounds
- Safety equipment (especially impact-resistant)
- Water supply lines (lacquer lining)
- CDs and DVDs
- Electronics and automobile parts
What Are the Long-Term Effects of BPA Exposure?
Various studies (disregarded by many manufacturers and chemical agencies) have linked BPA exposure to early-onset puberty in children, obesity, infertility in women, insulin resistance and diabetes, cardiovascular disease, birth defects, behavior disorders, as well as ovarian, prostrate and breast cancers.
Sexual Dysfunction in Men Must Be Added to the List…
During a five-year study conducted at the Kaiser Foundation Research Institute, scientists discovered a shocking link between BPA exposure and rising incidents of sexual dysfunction in men. In fact, men exposed to BPA at their workplace began to experience sexual dysfunction within months.
This is the first study in which long-term BPA effects were studied in human subjects, and the results can no longer be explained away.
BPA causes hormonal imbalances in the human body and disrupts healthy sexual function in men.
Despite pressure to reevaluate claims based on insufficient tests carried out almost 30 years ago, the FDA and the American Chemistry Council continue to insist that BPA is safe. Public outcry, as well as pressure from the worldwide scientific community, demands that manufacturers stop using BPA and its substitute, BPS.
Consumer Reports ran independent tests of many products that claim to be “organic” or “BPA-free” and found BPA in many. Consumers aware of the long-term effects of BPA exposure depend on those erroneous labels to determine safe alternatives.
What is BPA? Toxic. Destructive. Detected in the majority of citizens in most countries around the world. It is all-too-common…used in everyday items most of us can find in our homes right now.
How You Can Limit Your BPA Exposure:
- Do not microwave plastic (even if it says “microwave safe”) – it breaks down at higher temperatures.
- Plastic marked with a “7” recycle code is likely made with BPA.
- Reduce use of canned food and beverages – most aluminum is made with BPA.
- Use glass, porcelain or stainless steel – especially for hot foods.
- Look for baby bottles that say “BPA-Free” – developing infants and children are at higher risk for BPA exposure
- Opt for fresh foods and drinks whenever possible
You must do what you can to limit how much of this toxic chemical gains access to your cells through your diet and skin.
Even occasional use of target products will cause BPA levels to fluctuate but never completely disappear. The fact that water supply lines are coated in a BPA-derived resin, that medical and dental supplies use products made from this compound, and that our receipt paper and money test positive for BPA, indicates that even constant diligence will likely never be enough to eradicate the threat completely.
