Plastic pollution has dramatically been increasing over the past few years. It has invaded our natural resources and ecosystems. It is no surprise then that there are adverse effects on human health, alongside the environmental impacts, due to the often toxic component chemicals.

 

The common and convenient practice of drinking water and other beverages from plastic bottles comes with downsides. Using plastic drinking bottles produces negative effects on health and the environment. Plastic drinking bottles contain many chemicals, some of which interfere with hormones in the body. These chemicals include bisphenol-A, or BPA, and phthalates, among others. Chemicals in the plastic can leach into bottled water, especially when exposed to heat or when the bottle is old.

 

BPA, known scientifically as Bisphenol A, is a synthesized chemical compound used in the production of everything from plastic water bottles and food storage containers, to canned foods and paper receipts. It was invented in the 1890s by a Russian chemist and was considered initially for use as an artificial estrogen because it strongly mimicked the effect of hormones in the body. In the mid-century, BPA was employed in manufacturing polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins because it could produce resilient plastics that wouldn’t break or shatter when heated or cooled. It was cheap and effective, hence the widespread commercial use of this very toxic chemical.  Despite the mounting evidence that BPA is linked to serious side effects, studies indicate that Americans are still exposed to harmful levels of BPA. This is likely due to the fact that it is present virtually everywhere, including the biggest culprit: disposable plastic water bottles. BPA affects the health in more ways than one. The toxic chemical has been linked to causing reproductive, immunity, and neurological problems, as well as an increased likelihood of Alzheimer’s, childhood asthma, metabolic disease, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.  Most of the concern stems from the fact that BPA is soluble. This means that when it comes into contact with liquids or when it is heated, the bond it has formed with the plastic can be broken, and BPA can seep into the contents of the food or beverages.

 

When BPA containers are made, not all of the BPA gets sealed into the product. This allows part of it to break free and mix with the container’s contents once food or fluids are added. For instance, a recent study found that BPA levels in urine decreased by 66% following three days during which participants avoided packaged foods. Another study had people eat one serving of either fresh or canned soup daily for five days. Urine levels of BPA were 1,221% higher in those who consumed the canned soup.

 

The conditions required for a healthy fetus to develop are fragile. During pregnancy women should not drink alcohol or smoke and they need to be very careful about dietary choices. They should also be careful of the plastics with which they come into contact, according to a study which found BPA to have a negative effect on some fetal development processes. Essentially, BPA gets into the woman’s body and tricks the reproductive system into thinking it is a hormone. This blocks or changes what the body’s natural hormones are supposed to do and it has been shown to compromise the quality of the eggs a woman produces, as well as alter the DNA of the fetus, which can lead to birth defects. Studies have also shown that BPA poses serious health risks to men, adversely affecting male reproductive function. High-level exposure may increase the risk of erectile dysfunction and problems with sexual desire and ejaculation. While BPA is a major concern for the world today, its effect on fertility and child development will affect future generations.

 

The evidence against so-called ‘BPA free’ plastics, including reusable plastic bottles, is alarming. Since manufacturers need to continue producing plastic bottles to stay in business, they replace BPA with other synthesized chemicals that release estrogens even more dangerous than BPA, such as BPS and BFP. One study found that BPS, an alternative used in ‘BPA-free’ bottles, had the same harmful effects on the body, including negative effects on estrogen and the thyroid hormone system. Even worse, the cocktail of these chemicals together is doing even more damage to the body. In a study performed in 2013 at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, they found that the combination of multiple endocrine-disruptors caused cell mutation and significant damage to genes. Nearly 81% of Americans have detectable levels of BPS in their urine.

 

Here’s the takeaway, if it’s plastic, there’s a good chance it’s got BPA in it. Ultimately, reusable plastic bottles advertised as ‘BPA-free’ still pose a significant risk given the widespread use of alternative chemicals manufacturers use.

 

Using “BPA-free” plastic products could be as harmful to human health — including a developing brain — as those products that contain the controversial chemical, suggest scientists in a new study led by the University of Missouri and published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. We look for labels stating plastics are “BPA-free” to reassure ourselves that the product is safe to eat or drink out of. A new study has shown that BPA-free options are not safe either. A team of researchers from the School of Molecular Biosciences at Washington State University tested BPA-free plastics on lab mice and found detrimental effects on their sperm counts and ova health.

 

Now, emerging science suggests the BPA-replacement chemicals may be just as harmful. In one study in Environmental Health Perspectives, researchers looked at over 450 plastic containers, including BPA-free ones, and found almost all leached chemicals that imitate estrogen.

 

BPA-free does not mean chemical free. And although the evidence is building against BPA substitutes, more research is needed to assess the effects on human health. To avoid these chemicals in your food, look for food packaged in glass and aseptic packaging (like Tetra Pak) and use glass and stainless steel for food storage at home. And never heat food in any type of plastic container. A product that is BPA free is one which does not use the organic compound Bisphenol A in its construction. In the past many plastic products such as baby bottles, plastic plates and cutlery, storage containers and drink bottles have been made using BPA.

 

Infants and young children were shown to have the highest level of BPA exposure due to bottles and sippy cups being made from BPA plastics. When bottles and cups are washed, sterilized in hot water, or heated, small amounts of BPA leach out of the plastics. Links have also been made between BPA consumption and obesity. A study by the Yale School of Medicine in 2008 found a connection between BPA and the interference with the brain cells related to memory, mood and learning.

The root of scientists’ concern about BPA in containers is that the chemical can leach out of packaging and into food. This happens when plastic deteriorates and releases its chemical contents, according to Nancy Wayne, a reproductive neuroendocrinologist at UCLA. Acidic foods, like tomato sauce, can break down plastic. Plastic also breaks down when heated; manufacturers may heat metal cans lined with BPA to sterilize them, and consumers frequently put plastic containers of food in the microwave. Once released, BPA can contaminate food and enter the human body, where it interferes with hormonal processes. This hormonal interference has been linked to cancer, heart disease, and obesity.

 

Most of the products that are used by people, are made of plastic, which means it can be difficult to eliminate these from our lives altogether. However, the growing alarm to BPA led to the production of BPA-free plastics. The important thing to remember is to avoid exposing the plastic products to high temperatures, such as in the microwave or dishwasher to make sure that the chemicals do not seep into your food or beverage. But for those who are still anxious about the health risks of plastics, there is always that option to switch to glass or stainless-steel products.

 

References:

https://www.buiced.com/pages/bpa-free

https://www.anaheimregionalmc.com/Blog/2016/November/What-Is-BPA-Free-Plastic-.aspx

https://www.motherearthliving.com/health-and-wellness/harmful-effects-of-plastic-ze0z1205zsch

https://ecologycenter.org/factsheets/adverse-health-effects-of-plastics/

https://repurpose.global/letstalktrash/harmful-effects-of-plastic-pollution-on-human-health/