Last updated on August 19th, 2022 at 11:16 pm
As if there weren’t enough issues regarding BPA, a new study has shown that BPA lingers longer in the body than they once thought:
“What this study shows is that either we are getting exposed to a lot more BPA than we thought, or it’s hanging around longer than we thought, or both,” said lead researcher Dr. Richard W. Stahlhut, a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Rochester Medical Center’s Environmental Health Sciences Center, in New York.
So as far was we can tell, they’re still unsure as to what’s causing BPA to linger in the body. My guess is both. BPA is in nearly everything:
Stahlhut noted that BPA is used to harden plastics in many products, including plastic bottles, PVC water pipes and food-storage containers. It’s also used to coat the inside of metal food cans and in dental sealants. It’s even found in cash register receipts and recycled paper, he said.
While it sounds nearly impossible to avoid BPA entirely (believe me, I’ve tried), there are lots of things you can do to limit your exposure to BPA:
- Kathy wrote a great post about limiting exposure to BPA in food products, you can read it here.
- When possible, use glass drinkware, or stainless steel, if you’re out and about.
- If we’ve said it once, we’ve said it a thousand times, never put any plastic in the microwave. Even “safe” plastics can have leaching capabilities as the plastic starts to break down.
- Use BPA free bottles, cups and dishware for babies and toddlers. I realize that using glass or ceramic for children isn’t an option, so we have a list of safer dishware choices, as well as safer bottle, breast milk storage and pump choices, as well.
- Avoid plastics with the recycling codes 3, 6&7.
- Avoid or limit your exposure to PVC. This can be a little tricky, because sometimes, it’s just not labeled, but when I’m buying something that could potentially contain PVC, I try to smell it before buying. If it smells noxious, it’s probably not something you want in your home.
What are the ways you’ve tried to limit your exposure to BPA? Send us your tips and we’ll post them here.
