1, 2, and 4 and Here's to Your Good Health Without BPA - "Bisphenol A"
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Now take the number two and double it.
But not so fast.
They stand in contrast to the numbers three, five, six and seven and what makes these three numbers "safe numbers" is their lack of the toxic chemical Bisphenol A, (BPA for short), which is inherent in the remaining four numbers.
This writer will not pretend to offer expertise on the subject.
However, the Centers For Disease Control (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), as of this writing, each post online over 300 technical entries on BPA.
The most comprehensive non-technical reporting on Bisphenol A is provided by the donation funded Environmental Working Group (EWG.
org) also provides topics of concern on Bisphenol A.
O.
com) openly discuss online the hazards posed by BPA.
Naturally my first inclination was to inventory any type of plastic that was even remotely connected to foods and beverages.
Instead, some pieces may have a number within a circle, the meaning of which is unknown.
I can't help but wonder if somehow this toxic chemical can permeate a fragile eggshell barrier over a given period of time so my egg purchases today come in sturdy cardboard cartons that have no possible adverse effects on eggs and are very safe to recycle.
I have several of these, different brands and sizes.
I force myself to avoid speculation.
They bear the numbers seven (7) and five (5) respectively and I'm too miffed to check the lids!
Over the years I somehow managed to accumulate those hard plastic water bottles with company logos that conveniently rest in automobile cup holders and often contain hot beverages.
All but two "safe" bottles, from the National Medical Association and G.
Bass Clothing, bear the number five (5), but two findings compound the problem.
Add hot coffee, tea or other hot beverage to these vessels and the resulting chemical interaction could conceivably be harmful even toxic to a chemical sensitive person.
None of these cups can be used for hot beverages.
It makes no difference.
I don't bother to check the lids.
At home I come across two rigid plastic 64 ounce advertising cups, one from the major Cola manufacturer, the other from 7 Eleven and their respective numbers are five (5) and two (2) which, thanks to 7 eleven, proves that each and every one of these cups can and should be made of BPA free plastic.
Some anecdotal evidence suggests that canned tomato products lined with BPA increase the potency of the toxin and yet these cans show no markings of their BPA content.
Precedent for this requirement has already been established with health risk warnings on tobacco and alcohol products.
Here's where the tragedy and fun really begins.
I decide to check these out as well as the various plastic cleaning product containers.
In the kitchen I come across a large plastic container of Heinz Distilled Vinegar.
There must exist explanations for these abuses and it's time to demand those answers.
Would it be feasible to convince Kraft and Stonyfield to sell their otherwise nutritious products in Zep and Scrub Free plastics for the sake of public health, or require Finesse Shampoo to use a number two (2) plastic container like its Pert competitor or demand that Fructis Shampoo reveal the resin identification codes on all its many different plastic containers? I would be quite satisfied with these corrections.
The very thought of BPA free plastic pesticide containers is unnerving.
They are made of resin identification code number five (5), BPA, which, should leaching occur, could contaminate indicated medications with synthetic estrogen.
Certain dental appliances have a BPA plastic composition and these must be evaluated to determine the possibility of synthetic estrogen leakage.
And indeed the Glassware by definition is BPA free and definitely microwave safe and definitely safe to recycle, but its plastic lid has an inconspicuous resin identification code number five (5), another BPA containing plastic and certainly unsafe for microwave cooking or recycling.
No lid should ever contain the toxin BPA and WHY CUTTING BOARDS? While in Costco a demonstration for the blender VITAMIX is taking place.
On the box of each unit is a statement that says the container is BPA-free which also piques my curiosity.
I ask the salesperson about this and the reply astounds me.
WHOA! I say nothing further as a new group of onlookers begins to gather, but can't help but wonder about any chemical reaction with BPA code number seven (7) or IF new copolyester products could leak their chemicals when the unit is used for any purpose but especially to microwave soup or other hot beverage.
I'm impressed by the near immediate Sunday afternoon reply but not impressed by its substance from a company representative which reads in part, ".
The containers used are the new copolyester bpa-free containers.
That said, I e-mail my inquiry to the Society of the Plastics Industry and receive a prompt and courteous reply from someone I believe to be a secretary advising me to e-mail my queries to ASTM.
My next step is to send the actual e-mail but incredibly my e-mail goes unanswered.
I can't help but think that some form of regulations governing resin identification codes are justified to curb what appears to be industry abuses that satisfy the needs of its membership, without any accountability, and at the health expense of the consumer.
The year 2008 became the pivotal year for the disposition of BPA.
Denmark restricted the use of BPA.
" WHAT A MARVELOUS, SENSIBLE AND COST EFFECTIVE CONCEPT FOR EUROPEAN GOVERNMENTS!!.
I cannot say whether or not politics plays any role in the future of BPA but in April, 2008 Senator John Kerry (D-MA) and fellow Senate Democrats proposed legislation to ban BPA from all children's products.
ORG website.
" That same year Maryland legislators banned BPA from baby bottles and is actively pursuing additional restrictions on the chemical.
vom Saal, PhD, and John Peterson Myers, PhD.
Lang et al report a significant relationship between urine concentrations of BPA and cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and liver-enzyme abnormalities in a representative sample of the adult US population.
S.
On the subject of safe microwave cooking with plastic Clair Hicks, PhD, professor of food science, University of Kentucky at Lexington maintains that resin identification code numbers one (1) and five (5) are safe and that number six (6) "may be microwaved only if it is covered with a barrier film, such as a microwave-safe plastic wrap.
Until the federal government, plastics industry, metal can industry and food industry sort out this mess we consumers must exercise our own awareness and vigilance, a kind of civil protest, in our food purchases, preparation and recycling practices to limit our exposure to BPA as with any dangerous toxin.
Metal and/or plastic caps should be certified BPA FREE.
The ultimate purpose of resin identification codes is to recycle same type plastics and cans for future use.
It's time to send urgent messages to our legislators to resolve BPA issues and to the food industry that we will no longer buy your food products packaged in unidentified cans that may be lined with BPA or in plastics bearing the numbers three (3), five (5) six (6) or seven (7).
It seems ironic that the day before the 2010 Earth Day rally in Washington, D.
a contingent of the SPI Bioplastics Council flew to the nation's capital to lobby members of Congress.
S.
" Only In America could such audacity prosper unbridled!
This original limerick is intended to drive home the point that the continued use and intimacy of BPA with food or beverage is a case of Americans Poisoning Americans LEGALLY:
Imagine from a country named Reggert r
We imported the delicacy Weggertr
'Twas laced with the toxinr
Known simply as Poxinr
And our government simply did nuthin'
Ewg.
Similarly, NPR (npr.
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The article "The Price of Environmental Stewardship" by this writer adds further commentary on Bisphenol A.
Marshall, D.
.
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