7 Facts You Need to Know About BPA

Bisphenol-A (BPA) is a chemical that is used to make food containers, packaging and hygiene products. They can be found not only in plastic materials but also even in electronic gadgets and hygienic products.

Many studies have linked exposure to BPA to many health issues like infertility, hypertension and even certain cancers to name a few.

Please read: The Negative Effects of BPA to One’s Health

There are many controversies surrounding this industrial chemical but what is BPA really and how does it get into our body?

Here are 7 facts you need to know about BPA:

1. BPA is an important material in plastics.

BPA was discovered in the late 1800s and was used by chemists in the 1950s to produce strong and resilient polycarbonate plastics.

plastic bottle

BPA is an important material in plastics.

2. BPA can be found in most commercial products.

BPA can be found in many commercial products but products that contain the most BPA are food and items packed in plastic containers, canned food, hygienic products, feminine products, receipts printed in thermal paper, CDs and DVDs, electronic devices, eyeglass lenses, sports equipment and dental fillings.

3. A BPA-free label on a product doesn’t necessarily mean it’s safe.

While many products are now BPA-free, bisphenol-S (BPS) and bisphenol-F (BPF) which has replaced BPA have similar effects in the body. Therefore, using BPA-free products does not necessarily mean that they are safe.

Please read: 7 Effective Ways to Minimize Exposure to BPA

4. Look out for these on the label: 3, 7 or “PC”

Look out for plastic products labeled with 3, 7 or “PC” at the bottom, they are most likely to contain BPA.

5. BPA mixes with food.

BPA enters the body through food. Many food containers are made with BPA, and they can easily break-free and mix with the food product.

6. Canned soup contains BPA

A study revealed that people who consumed canned soup daily for 5 days had up to 1,221% higher BPA levels in their urine compared with those who consumed fresh soup.

7. Directly breastfeed your baby to minimize your baby’s exposure to BPA.

The World Health Organization reported that babies who were directly breastfed had up to 8 times lower BPA levels in the blood than babies fed liquid formula in BPA-containing bottles.

BPA maybe one of the most common (and most controversial) material found in commercial products. However, knowing the facts surrounding this chemical can be helpful in understanding what it is and how it enters our body.

Source: Authority Nutrition

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