Bisphenol A: Links to Cancer, Hyperactivity, Endometriosis and other mysteries.
The January 20th Diane Rehm show on WAMU radio featured Canadians Bruce Lourie and Rick Smith, the authors of Slow Death by Rubber Duck: The Secret Danger of Everyday Things.
Lourie, an environmental policy expert and Smith, the Executive Director of Environmental Defense Canada took investigative journalism to another level by using themselves as Bisphenol A guinea pigs.
For 48 hours the pair simply used common household items such as metal cans and plastic food containers. Mr. Smith even drank from a baby bottle (though he assures us he first removed the nipple!). They took regular blood and urine samples to monitor the change in BPA levels in their bodies.
In only 48 hours, the levels increased seven and a half times.
Hundreds of studies have shown that very low levels of BPA- in Parts Per Million or Parts Per Billion- can cause genetic damage, especially in the developing bodies of fetuses, children and teens. The effect on genetic expression has been linked to a wide variety of dysfunctions in children and adults.
Because BPA mimics the hormone estrogen, it can affect the reproductive system causing hyperplasia, or overgrowth of breast, prostate and uterine tissues. It is also associated with other numerous health issues: damage to heart tissue, asthma and childhood obesity, as well as effects on the brain, such as hyperactivity.
For tips on ways to avoid and eliminate BPA, see my October 29 post: “PLASTICS’ EFFECTS ON OUR BODIES AND PLANET”
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