More and more studies are coming in. Results are contradictory, some studies say it’s good, some say it’s the worst thing since the atomic bomb. This Treehugger article is a good place to start.
Bisphenol A, or BPA, is an additive that goes into various plastics, including bottles and can linings. In the body, it mimics estrogen, leading to varying consequences in the endocrine, or hormone, systems. Studies have shown effects like genital abnormalities, problems with reproduction, and decreased sperm production. It’s difficult to study because endocrine disruption has different effects depending on many things like where in the body it acts, how much is accumulated, if it’s acting in conjunction with other hormones, and the person’s growth cycle. Also, many hormone effects are not apparent until the next generation. For instance, if a baby is exposed through bottle-feeding, effects of BPA won’t be seen until that person grows and has a child of its own. As you can imagine, this is difficult to design a study around.
It’s been found that 92% of Americans have BPA in their urine. The American Chemistry Council has responded with something along the lines of, gee well if everyone is so exposed to it, it can’t be that bad! I’m with Kristof on this one, and cutting back on BPA sources where I can. Who knows where it’ll pop up next though.
