What exactly is BPA and is it dangerous?
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Leesduur: 3 min
BPA (bisphenol A) is a substance found in plastics. Some say it's very harmful, while others think it's not that bad. I can certainly imagine you have questions about BPA and its potential harmful effects. That's why we're going to tell you all about it in this article.
What is BPA: A chemical found in plastics, found in everyday products such as cans, toys, sporting goods, receipts, and water bottles.
Health risks: BPA disrupts hormones, causes infertility, obesity, diabetes, birth defects, cancer risk, and health problems in children.
Avoid BPA: Eat BPA-free, avoid plastic bottles and cans, don't heat food in plastic, and choose fresh foods.
What is BPA
Perhaps you recently bought a product and read on the label that it's BPA-free. Bisphenol A (BPA) is a chemical primarily used in plastics and coatings. It's added as a plasticizer, a substance that makes plastics flexible and elastic.
BPA is found in plastic water bottles, food containers, and even baby bottles
BPA has been used in all kinds of plastics since 1960. But these days, it's increasingly under scrutiny due to its harmful effects on our health.
Products containing BPA
BPA is found in countless products. Virtually anything made of plastic or coated is a potential source of BPA. Below, we've compiled a list to give you an idea of the types of products that contain BPA.
- Toiletries
- Canned food
- Menstrual products
- Receipts from thermal printers
- CDs and DVDs
- All kinds of electronics for household use
- Glasses
- Receipts (ink)
- Sporting goods (water bottles)
- Drinking water pipes
- Sunglasses
- Toys
- Plastic bags
- Water pipes (coating)
- Pens
- And much more...
Risks of BPA
BPA was previously considered harmless, which is why it's used in a huge number of products. However, numerous scientific studies now demonstrate its harmful effects.
Infertility
BPA acts as a phytoestrogen and can mimic the effects of estrogen in the body. It binds to estrogen receptors, which can lead to microinflammation and cell damage. In both men and women, this manifests as reduced fertility due to various factors.
- Men - reduced fertility due to damage to the testicles and reduced testosterone production, leading to lower sperm production.
- Women - decrease in the hormone estradiol, which leads to a lower number of eggs and reduces the chance of fertilization.
Obesity and type 2 diabetes
BPA's pro-inflammatory properties contribute to an increased risk of diabetes, obesity, and even cardiovascular disease. In addition, BPA binds to hormone receptors responsible for fat storage.
Finally, BPA damages the body's cells' energy factories (mitochondria), which leads to a slower metabolism, stress, and chronic micro-inflammation in the body. This leads to hormonal fluctuations and increased cravings for "healthy" foods.
Birth defects
BPA from plastics can disrupt the healthy growth of an embryo in several ways. This substance is easily transferred across the placenta and also affects the mother's hormone balance. This can lead to birth defects and growth retardation.
Health problems in children
Young children are particularly sensitive because they cannot yet (or barely) break down the substance. This increases the risk of health problems such as diabetes and stunted growth.
Cancer formation
Bisphenol A is linked to the development of colon cancer, breast cancer, and ovarian cancer, among other conditions. Studies also suggest that chemotherapy drugs are less effective when exposed to bisphenol A.
The size of the problem
The use of BPA is strictly regulated by the European Union. There are strict standards for its use. The problem, however, is that it's found in an infinite number of products. This means you can easily ingest far too much of it.
Globalization also has a negative impact on BPA intake. Tens of billions are imported from China, which has no standards for BPA use.
A large proportion of these products that enter our country via Chinese webshops contain far too much BPA and other hormone-disrupting substances.
According to scientific research, the health risks are high. Therefore, the use of BPA is definitely a major problem. That's why we've compiled tips for you to avoid BPA.
Tips to avoid BPA
So, it's certainly not unnecessary to avoid Bisphenol A as much as possible. Much research still needs to be done, and not everything is entirely certain, but if there's any truth to the health risks you run, then it's definitely worth doing your best to avoid these types of plastics as much as possible. How do you do that?
- Don't eat from cans unless they are BPA free.
- Avoid contact with receipts
- Do not drink from plastic water bottles, cups and bottles.
- Never heat food in plastic
- Be careful with plastic toys (from China)
- Choose fresh, unprocessed foods
- As few packets and bags as possible
Hein van Kuijck
Hein has a deep interest in the effects of nutrition, lifestyle, and nutritional supplements on the human body. He conducts extensive research on this topic and enjoys sharing his knowledge with others.
