Eternal Source Blog

All About Bisphenol A (BPA) – What is it? Which Products Contain It? How is it Released? Has BPA been banned? Fantastic BPA-Free Alternatives

21/02/2011 at 11:21 am Leave a comment

At Eternal Source, one of the chemicals we are always keeping a close eye on as part of our product research is the commonly used chemical – Bisphenol A (also known as BPA).

The more we have chatted to people, the more we have realised that while many of us might have heard of BPA we often don’t really know what it is, what products contain it, under what conditions it is released, what other countries are doing about it, what Australia is doing about it and what BPA-free alternatives are available.

So, in this blog we take an in-depth look at some of the key issues surrounding BPA.

What is Bisphenol A (BPA)?

BPA is “a synthetic estrogen used to harden polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins”[1].

There is a multitude of research currently being undertaken by scientists on the impacts of human exposure to BPA, with findings to date suggesting that BPA exposure may:

• Disrupt the endocrine system, which hampers the body’s natural hormones responsible for metabolism, reproduction and development; and
• Trigger a wide variety of disorders, including chromosomal and reproductive system abnormalities, impaired brain and neurological functions, cancer, cardiovascular system damage, adult-onset diabetes, early puberty, obesity and resistance to chemotherapy[2].

Which Products Contain BPA?

An estimated 2.7 billion kilograms of BPA are fabricated into thousands of products each year[3], including:

• Polycarbonate plastics (which contain BPA): used in a wide range of everyday products, including baby bottles, water & beverage bottles & food storage containers;
• Epoxy resins: used to line food cans and baby formula cans to prevent the contents coming into contact with the metal;
• Thermal paper: BPA has more recently been found in some brands of thermal paper, which is often used to print receipts at cash registers; and
• Selected dental resigns (used for fillings), safety equipment, eyeglasses, computer and mobile phone casings and epoxy paint and coatings.

How does BPA get into our Body?

It is hard to comprehend that in 2005 the US Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) found that 95 percent of Americans have detectable levels of BPA in their bodies[4]. Not only that, but in many cases these levels were found to be above the concentrations known to reliably cause adverse effects (like the ones discussed above) in laboratory experiments.

So the question is, how does BPA get into our bodies?

BPA leaching from Polycarbonate Plastics

BPA-based polycarbonate plastic products are thought to break down readily, particularly when heated or when washed with strong detergents.

For example,

• When we heat a baby bottle that contains BPA (on the stove or in a microwave) BPA is released into the contents of the bottle (like a baby’s milk or formula), which is then ingested.
• When we re-use a plastic water bottle or food container to the point where it is visibly scratched, or wearing down, BPA leaches into the contents inside, which we then ingest.

BPA leaching from the Epoxy Resins in Canned Foods

Some canned foods (like tinned fruits, vegetables, soft drinks etc) are lined with an epoxy resin that contains BPA.

This lining helps to protect the contents of the can from having contact from the actual metal the can is made from.

Studies have found that this epoxy resin can leach BPA directly into the contents of the can, although leaching normally occurs in cans containing liquids (like liquid vegetables, fruit, liquid baby formula etc) rather than dry contents (like powdered baby formula). For example:

• In March 2007 in the United States: the Environmental Working Group[5] found BPA in over half of the 97 cans of name-brand fruit, vegetables, soft drinks & liquid infant formula they tested in the United States. In some cases, the concentrations of BPA in a single serving were more than 200 times the government’s traditional safe level of exposure for industrial chemicals[6].

• In September 2010 in Australia, Choice tested 38 canned foods in Australia, including baby foods, baked beans, coconut milk, corn kernels, olive oil, spaghetti and tuna[7]. While none of the cans Choice tested contained BPA in excess of the EU’s limit of 600ppb, 33 of the 38 samples contained some BPA. In addition, Choice found that just one serving of 29 out of the 38 samples would give a 70kg adult more BPA than some experts believe to be a safe daily level of exposure. Its well worth looking at the full published list on Choice’s website.

BPA leaching from Thermal Paper in Shop Receipts

In October 2010, the Environmental Working Group conducted a study on BPA leaching from Shop Receipts in the United States and found that 2/5 of the paper receipts tested had been coated with BPA[8].

• Some of the major US retailers using BPA-containing receipts in at least some of their outlets included McDonalds, KFC, Walmart, Safeway & U.S. Postal Service.

While scientists have not yet determined how much of the BPA coating can transfer to human skin they are in the process of exploring what kind of exposure is likely through our skin and what kind of exposure is likely orally (as the BPA may transfer from our hands onto our food as we eat).

Other Potential Sources of BPA leaching

Scientists are also exploring other sources of potential BPA leaching & exposure, such as through drinking water (BPA has been found in some rivers and estuaries in the USA and therefore may be contaminating drinking water).

Studies are also being conducted in Japan and the USA about the impact of BPA leaching from landfills into surrounding ecosystems.

Has anyone placed restrictions or banned BPA?

Many countries around the world have decided to take precautionary action when it comes to BPA in children’s products, with Canada & the EU banning BPA in polycarbonate baby bottles.

In addition, 8 states and 3 counties/cities in the United States have enacted bans as well (see full details in the table below).

Country	Details of Action / Ban
Canada	In April 2008, Canada became the first country in the world to ban polycarbonate baby bottles containing BPA. The ban took effect in March 2010. Canada has also classified BPA as a toxic substance.
Germany	In June 2010, the German Government recommended BPA restrictions.
Denmark	In June 2010, Denmark “temporarily” banned BPA in baby bottles, sippy cups & packaging for baby food and breast milk substitutes. The ban is in effect until evidence proves BPA to be safe for young children.
EU	In November 2010, the EU announced that it is banning the manufacturing of polycarbonate baby bottles containing BPA from 1 March 2011 & the marketing and market placement of polycarbonate baby bottles containing BPA in stores from 1 June 2011. This is backed by a majority of EU governments.
United States	In March 2009, Suffolk County (New York) banned BPA-based plastic bottles & cups.  In May 2009, Minnesota became the first state to ban BPA from children’s drink containers (effective from 2010). In May 2009, the City of Chicago banned food or drink containers containing BPA intended for children under the age of 3. In June 2009, Connecticut banned BPA in infant formula, baby food cans and jars + reusable food and beverage containers. In January 2010, Wisconsin banned BPA in baby bottles & sippy cups. In January 2010, Washington State banned BPA in baby bottles, sippy cups and food containers (except metal cans). In April 2010, Maryland became the fifth state to ban BPA in baby bottles. In May 2010, Vermont banned BPA for baby food, baby formula & drink bottles (the metal food cans ban starts on 1 July 2014). In July 2010, California banned BPA in baby formula and foods. In July 2010, New York banned BPA in bottles, sippy cups, pacifiers and drinking straws effective December 2010. In December 2010, Massachusetts banned BPA in baby bottles.

Source: “Timeline: BPA from Invention to Phase-Out“, Environmental Working Group

A number of major manufacturers and retailers have also taken action when it comes to BPA.

Retailer / Manufacturer	Details of Action on BPA
Bottle Manufacturers	In April 2008, Nalgene & Playtex announced a shift to BPA-free products[9].
Major US Retailers	In April 2008, Wal-Mart & Toys-R-US announced they will be rapidly phasing out BPA-containing baby bottles[10] .
SIGG Drink Bottle Manufacturer	In September 2009, Sigg announced that they had switched to a BPA-free lining on their aluminium bottles in 2008 and offered to exchange old bottles for customers[11].
General Mills Plans for Muir Glen Tomatoes	In April 2010, the General Mills Corporate Social Report announced that its Muir Glen label organic tomatoes will be sold in BPA-free cans beginning with the next harvest.
Heinz foods	In July 2010, Heinz foods removed BPA from cans sold in Australia, the UK and Ireland. Food Production Daily quotes a Heinz Australia spokesperson as saying BPA-free cans for baby food will be available within 12 months, with metal closures on glass and jars later[12].
Canning Industry in Japan	Between 1998 and 2003, the canning industry in Japan voluntarily replaced their BPA-containing epoxy resin can liners with BPA-free polyethylene terephthalate (PET) in many of their products.  For other products, they switched to a different epoxy lining that yielded much less migration of BPA into food than the previously used resin. In addition, polycarbonate tableware for school lunches was replaced by BPA-free plastics. As a result of these changes, Japanese risk assessors have found that virtually no BPA is detectable in canned foods or drinks, and blood levels of BPA in people have declined dramatically (50% in one study)[13].
Coles, K Mart, Target, Woolworths, Big W & Aldi	On the 30th of June 2010, the Australian Government announced that the Wesfarmers Group (Coles, K Mart, Target) and Woolworths, Big W and Aldi had decided to voluntarily phase out baby bottles containing BPA[14].

Source: See references: [9], [10], [11], [12], [13] and [14] below.

Has BPA been Banned or Restricted in Australia?

Despite the multitude of research that has been undertaken on BPA over many years (see the timeline by the Environmental Working Group), it seems that regulators in both Australia and overseas are very cautious about making any adverse health declarations about BPA.

The presumption seems to be that the chemical is safe unless it can be proven otherwise.

Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) – the body responsible for the regulation of chemicals in plastic articles for food use in Australia – has stated that they have “evaluated the safety of BPA in food, including that consumed by infants and concluded that levels of intake of BPA are very low and do not pose a significant human health risk for any age group”[15].

And yet despite this, on the 30th of June 2010, the Australian Government announced that the Wesfarmers Group (Coles, K Mart, Target) and Woolworths, Big W and Aldi had decided to voluntarily phase out baby bottles containing BPA[16].

In their media release, the Australian Government cited the decision taken by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the USA in January 2010 to undertake further research into the risks for babies and infants associated with BPA.

The Government went on to say that they appreciate that “there has been a level of public concern relating to BPA in baby bottles and, as such, has worked extensively with retailers to introduce the phase out”[17].

In response to the bans overseas and voluntary phase-out in Australia, the Australian regulator (FSANZ) asserts that these actions are a “response to consumer preference and demand and not an issue about product safety”[18].

While this still means that baby bottles containing BPA (not to mention baby foods in cans lined with BPA) can still be sold in Australia, it is at least a step in the right direction when we see major retailers banding together voluntarily to phase out the sale of baby bottles containing BPA.

It also proves that people power can really make a difference when it comes to BPA, so the more we raise our concerns with Governments, manufacturers and retailers the more likely we are to get further action on BPA.

Fantastic BPA Free Alternatives from Eternal Source!

At Eternal Source, we sell such a fantastic range of BPA free alternatives that you really don’t need to feel like you are compromising when it comes to reducing your exposure to BPA.

BPA Free Alternatives for Babies / Toddlers

BPA Free Glass Baby Bottles

• At Eternal Source, we decided to stay away from plastic bottles altogether and have chosen to sell the fantastic Baby-Nova range of BPA free glass baby bottles, which are made from high-quality temperature resistant safety glass.
• We chose glass over plastic because we found ourselves wondering if there will come a time in the future when we find that non-BPA plastic bottles are leaching some other chemical into our liquids that we don’t yet know about.
• We love glass because it doesn’t leach any chemicals into the internal liquids.
• Glass baby bottles can also be used for years on end (provided they aren’t dropped!) and can be recycled at the end of their life cycle.
• Glass baby bottles can be used safely in sterilisers and dishwashers.
• We also love that the Baby-Nova glass baby bottles meet European Safety Standards for children’s drinking equipment, so we can be assured that there aren’t any other nasty chemicals (like lead, mercury, chromium and cadmium) in the glass or in the prints used on the outside of the bottles.

BPA Free Feeding Teats, Soothers, Teethers & Feeding Utensils

• When it comes to BPA-free feeding teats, soothers, teethers & feeding utensils we have, once again, chosen to sell the Baby-Nova range as they are not only free from BPA, but also from PVC and Phthalates (something we will blog about down the track!)
• Parents have a great choice in this range of either silicone or low-allergenic natural latex to choose from for teats & soothers depending on which material best suits their baby’s needs.

BPA Free Sippy Cups for Toddlers

• When it comes to BPA-free sippy cups for toddlers we decided to stay away from both plastic & aluminium (see our reasons on Aluminium in the below section on water bottles).
• Instead we went with the fantastic Ecotanka and Earthlust range of high quality, food grade stainless steel water bottles for toddlers.
• What we most love about stainless steel water bottles are that they doesn’t leach any chemicals into the internal liquids, they doesn’t retain smells or tastes from liquid, its hygienic and they last for years.
• As with glass, stainless steel water bottles are also fully recyclable at the end of its life cycle.

BPA Free Lunchboxes & Plates

• When it comes to lunchboxes & plates, we opted to go with the fantastic stainless steel options made by Ecolunchboxes and Lunchbots rather than relying on plastics.
• Made from food grade stainless steel, these fantastic stainless steel products are designed to last for years, they won’t leach chemicals and are hygienic and easy to clean!

Tips on Minimising BPA Exposure from Baby Formula

While we don’t sell baby formula at Eternal Source, we have picked up a few tips as part of our research into BPA that parents might find helpful when it comes to baby formula:

• Tests in the United States have found that BPA has leached from the cans into “liquid” baby formula, whereas current testing does not seem to have found BPA in “powdered” baby formula.
• Therefore, where possible and practicable, parents may wish to steer clear of liquid baby formulas in cans and rather stick to powdered options.
• Parents may also wish to contact their favourite baby formula suppliers and ask them directly if their cans are lined with BPA and, if so, if there are plans to phase BPA out of their cans.

BPA Free Alternatives for Adults

BPA Free Bottles

• In addition to staying away from plastic drinking bottles (for the reasons outlined above), at Eternal Source we also decided to stay away from Aluminium drinking bottles for a similar reason.
• Aluminium bottles need to be lined with an epoxy resin so that the internal liquid doesn’t come into contact with the aluminium. While some manufacturers have come up with BPA free epoxy resins for their Aluminium bottles, these linings are often protected by patents so we have no way of really knowing what goes into them despite everyone’s best assurance that it is safe.
• In the end, we chose to go with the fantastic Ecotanka, Earthlust, and Envirosax ranges of food grade stainless steel water bottles.
• Stainless steel water bottles don’t need to be lined with an epoxy resin to be safe for consumers and they don’t leach any chemicals into the internal liquids.
• As with glass, stainless steel water bottles are also fully recyclable at the end of their life cycle.

Other Tips on Minimising BPA Exposure For Adults

• Try to avoid using polycarbonate plastic food containers (these have a #7 on the bottom), perhaps try glass, porcelain or stainless steel instead.
• Don’t reuse single use plastic containers (from beverages or take-away food), recycle them instead.
• Don’t heat polycarbonate containers / bottles in the microwave or boil them on the stove. Transfer the contents into glass or stainless steel instead.
• Where possible, reduce consumption of canned foods by switching to fresh foods or foods packaged in glass jars. Alternatively, look for canned foods that specifically say they are BPA free (this may be pretty difficult to find given the current state of things when it comes to BPA in canned foods).
• If you handle a lot of cash register receipts (this is especially relevant for those working in the retail industry) ask your employer if the receipts are coated in BPA, and if so, perhaps see if you can wear gloves or wash your hands regularly through the day (and especially before eating).

Whew – that covers it for our first blog on BPA! We hope you have found it useful ☺

Full References:

[1] Chemical Index, Bisphenol-A, Environmental Working Group.

[2] Chemical Index, Bisphenol-A, Environmental Working Group.

[3] Stated as 6 billion pounds, which converts to 2.7 billion kgs, Chemical Index, Bisphenol-A, Environmental Working Group.

[4] “Toxic Baby Bottles Report 2007″, Environment California, page 18.

[5] The Environmental Working Group is a non-profit environmental science research and advocacy group in Washington, D.C., United States dedicated to protecting public health and the environment.

[6] “A Survey of Bisphenol A in U.S. Canned Foods”, 5 March 2007, Environmental Working Group.

[7] “BPA in canned foods”, 1 Sep 2010, by David Oakenfull for Choice.

[8] “Synthetic estrogen BPA coats cash register receipts”, 2 November 2010, Environmental Working Group.

[9] For Nalgene see: http://nalgene.com/bpa-info/. For Playtex see: http://www.playtexbaby.com/Articles/About-BPA

[10] For Walmart see – http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/17/AR2008041704205.html. For Toys ‘R’ Us see: http://voices.washingtonpost.com/thecheckout/2008/04/update_toys_r_us_to_pull_bottl.html

[11] “How Green Is Your SIGG Water Bottle?”, 27 October 2009, By Bonnie Rochman for Time.

[12] “Phasing out of BPA in Heinz baby food packaging”, 08 July 2010, Heinz Australia.

[13] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bisphenol_A#Japan

[14] “Government announces BPA baby bottle phase out”, 30 June 2010, by the Hon Mark Butler MP, Parliamentary Secretary for Health.

[15] “Bisphenol A (BPA) and food packaging”, November 2010, FSANZ.

[16] “Government announces BPA baby bottle phase out”, 30 June 2010, by the Hon Mark Butler MP, Parliamentary Secretary for Health.

[17] “Government announces BPA baby bottle phase out”, 30 June 2010, by the Hon Mark Butler MP, Parliamentary Secretary for Health.

[18] “Bisphenol A (BPA) and food packaging”, November 2010, FSANZ.

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