Sources of BPA


By now, I am sure we’ve all heard of BPA in plastics and cans. However, have you heard of some of the other sources of BPA,  such as thermal receipts and money? I found these two the most surprising sources. Everyday we use cash and touch thermal receipts without giving it a second thought. I’ll share with you what my endocrine specialist doctor said, “Unless you have to, don’t take the receipt. If you must take the receipt, ensure the store employee places it in the shopping bag. Once home, use a glove to handle the receipt.”

What is BPA?
BPA is the main component of polycarbonate, the hard, clear plastic sometimes used to make water bottles, baby bottles, food storage containers and other items like contact lenses, CDs and electronics devices. BPA is even used in places you wouldn’t normally think of, like the protective lining in tin cans and in dental sealants. If you’ve noticed the little arrows stamped on plastic items with numbers inside, the number to look for here is 7. Although not all plastics labeled “7″ contain BPA, it’s still a good identifier, as are the letters “PC.”

Should you be worried about BPA?
Because it is an endocrine disruptor. It changes the way our body’s hormones function, mimicking our own natural hormones — in this case, estrogen.Estrogen can alter the behavior of more than 200 genes, which control the growth and repair of nearly every organ and tissue in the body. Among other things, estrogen affects fetal development, cell structure and the onset of puberty, and your body’s cells are highly sensitive to even tiny changes in estrogen levels. While toxicity studies suggest high doses are safe, it’s the smaller doses that are deemed the most harmful.

While removing plastic entirely from your life might be a tad bit difficult, you can of course reduce your exposure to BPA and plastics in general. Switching to glass bottles, installing a water filter and using BPA free cans are just a few tips to reduce your exposure to BPA. When it comes to BPA in cash, the only options I see are to shop online, use your credit card, wear gloves or hire someone to handle cash for you. (The last option is very common by the way). As for the other sources of BPA, it is up to you to decide how you want to proceed. By all means, I don’t want to scaremonger you. My ultimate goal is to make you more aware of BPA.

For more information regarding BPA in above sources, please visit the following sites.

  1. BPA in plastic bottles and BPA free plastics
  2. BPA in cans
  3. BPA in store receipts
  4. BPA in printer ink
  5. BPA in money (Science Daily) and BPA in money (Time)
  6. BPA in dental fillings
  7. BPA in cosmetics
  8. BPA in clothing

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