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            “10 seconds before end of cycle,” beeps the microwave. The wonderful reheated pasta from yesterday has been sitting in the Rubbermaid plastic container and is taken out of the microwave. How often do you use or eat out of plastic containers? Most certainly, that plastic container is aligned with a chemical called bisphenol A (BPA), found in polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins. They are industrial chemicals mimicking the hormone estrogen, and are used in many consumer products such as canned foods, cash receipts, plastic bottles, and food containers. These chemicals are able to leak out into our foods and beverages, causing many deleterious health problems. Through many animal studies and research, it has been shown that there are links between these chemicals and risks of cancer, brain and sexual development, behavior and prostate glands of children and infants (at the stage of development), and many other health concerns. The U.S. Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) has already banned BPA from infant products such as baby bottles, drinking cups and lined coatings in infant formula, as it has posed many concerns for infant development. Still, the FDA has not yet made further efforts on regulations of BPA for other products. After defying numerous other studies, they announced that BPA is safe at lower levels. The chemical BPA is used to make plastic stronger and can be found in many household goods we use and containers we eat and drink in, consumers should be aware of the effects of BPA as there are numerous studies of how BPA exposes many health risks to humans, the awareness of people and the community evacuations to help push the FDA through organizations can help further the impact of safety regulations and with our own safe choices.

Many manufacturing companies would use BPA for its various benefits on plastic-related products, but once these chemicals leak into the foods we consume, they pose negative health effects to us. Polycarbonate, a polymer of BPA, is made into various consumer goods, including contact lenses, dental devices, electronic/sports equipments, and water bottles. Epoxy resins, also made of BPA, are used in other industrial applications for its strength and chemical resistance in plastics, such as a protective layer coating in cans and metal products to prevent the spoilage of food. In other products, BPA is used in cell phones, helmets, flame retardants, and several household items. The main culprit of BPA is when plastic containers are micro-waved or used in dishwashers, since the chemical can be released into the food. As a result of this and various sequences with excessive consumption of canned foods and beverages with BPA, this synthetic chemical is able to reach our bloodstream and urine with horrible health effects. In a study of over 2,000 people there were around 90 percent of them who had BPA in their urine. Some pregnant women even had minimal amounts of this chemical in their breast milk, blood, and blood of the umbilical cord (Blum, 12-14).

Several studies regarding the chemical BPA have been conducted for the past decades from its release in 1960. This chemical can act like estrogen in the body and can affect the brain as well as reproductive development. Albany researchers observed the increase of BPA and its correlations with levels of lower long-term memory functioning. At areas of heavy industry in Slovakia, there also seemed to be people with reproductive problems, such as rheumatoid arthritis, polycystic ovary syndrome, and lupus (Groopman, 18). Relating to polycystic ovary syndrome, Japanese scientists also conducted research that validated the fact that higher levels of BPA led to harm in fertility rates. These chemicals can also intrude on hormones and brain development.  Such that studies according to the University of Missouri-Columbia, on rats have shown they had puberty at a much earlier time onset than usual (15). There are even pieces of evidence of how the genetic coding in cells could be altered in eggs and sperm, which could eventually be slightly lethal in terms of passing genetics to the next generation.

Children and infants were among the most vulnerable to these chemicals in their developing stages, they were prone to hyperactivity, depression, and aggression (Kristoff, 4). More than 92% of American children six and above were found to have more than normal rates of BPA in their bodies, the level twice the amount in adults (Groopman, 20). Premature infants who used to be fed in baby bottles and drinking cups containing BPA were exposed to huge amounts of chemicals leaching from the plastic. Later, these infants and children would have numerous effects on their brain and behavior, as well a change in their prostate glands (Tavernise, 8).

Cancer has also been linked to the amount of released chemicals of BPA, studies show that they can lead to breast and prostate cancer even with very low levels, as shown through animal studies. Some scientists even poised concern that diabetes could occur later in age through the chemical BPA. There are even more researchers that have conducted studies that directly correlated chronic diseases with this chemical, as shown by Dr. Karin B. Michels (O’Connor, 4). The study conducted by Dr. Michels shows BPA also has a direct link to heart diseases and cardiovascular health. They tested people with controls of drinking beverages through glass bottles and through cans and found BPA levels in the urine could to be 16 times higher by drinking from a can than glass bottles (O’Connor, 13). Dr. Michels also found that the blood pressure of the people also rose to five millimeters of mercury, which is risky in terms of people who already have cardiovascular diseases. Since BPA is also a chemical that mimics the hormone estrogen, it may block some estrogen receptors which help control blood pressure and vessels, as well as change the thyroid hormone. Dr. Yun-Chul Hong has even stated, “Clinicians and patients – particularly hypertension or cardiovascular disease patients – should be aware of the potential clinical problems for blood pressure elevation when consuming canned food and beverages” (O’Connor, 16).

            Another major study in the field of women health has shown through animal studies, which BPA can affect the development of ovaries and reproductive cycle leading to female infertility, and health concerns of the baby. As stated earlier, BPA blocks and interferes with the body’s naturally produced enzymes, and it can delay the production of essential reproductive hormones such as estradiol. When Jodi Flaws (bioscientist at the University of Illinois) conducted studies with mice, she found that mice exposed to BPA had problems with developing ovaries, had smaller/fewer follicles which meant fewer fertile eggs, were unable to produce survivable eggs at a young age, and produced an imbalance of the sex hormones (Blum, 4). Other scientists such as Dr. Flaws (published review of research of BPA in the journal Environmental Health) have seen similar effects in other mammals such as monkeys, and even humans (Blum, 6). Another genetics professor, Patricia Hunt has found that female monkeys exposed to BPA have less follicles and oocytes, which affects the ability for their germ cells to mature into eggs (Blum, 12).

            With all these hazardous effects and concerns from researchers, health advocates, and even the federal government, national regulations and laws have been petitioned and asked for, but only few results set aside were accompanied by the FDA. Consumers should be aware of all the products they are using, and how, in order to maintain the safe test protocols from the health effects of BPA. Since the Toxic Substances Control Act in 1976, many manufacturers of chemicals do not need to test the safety of their products before it is out to the market, but the responsibility of testing lies on researchers and federal agencies (Groopman, 29). Bans on these chemicals, however, usually are not able to be attained without requests for several years between the government and manufacturers. Some organization and committee chairs such as Mike Walls, vice-president of regulatory affairs at the American Chemistry Council, have even stated the need to dominate laws in manufacturers to regulate these industrial chemicals. Some minor groups such as environmental groups keep the community aware of how BPA can leach from cans and water bottles. Others, such as the Natural Resources Defense Council petitioned to the FDA to ban BPA from anything close in-contact with food. In 2010, the FDA has realized the noticeable health concerns of BPA and has started banning them from certain, but very minimal amounts of products (U.S. FDA, 8). They have banned the use of BPA in baby bottles and drinking cups in 2012, after originally saying that BPA was safe, but not for infants (Tavernise, 4). States of Massachusetts and Connecticut have been working and taken acting to ban the BPA entirely, but the FDA have still denied to ban BPA from all food packaging and also condoned the fact that the amount of BPA found in plastic containers is considered relatively safe. Other countries like Canada have been in the lead in terms of safety evaluations after announcing BPA was a toxic substance and banned it from all children’s products in 2010 (Tavernise, 8).

            For a better proficiently and guaranteed safety from this chemical BPA, consumers own awareness is of great importance. There are simple steps to slowly get rid of BPA in your life and evaluate the harmful effects of this chemical. Choose products made with few toxic substances, avoid using plastic containers to store food and liquids, and try consuming food without the use of pesticides, chemicals, hormones, or antibiotics. When using BPA products however, do not heat it in the microwave or dishwasher as the chemical can spread into the food within the container. It is best for consumers to take action and to eat as little amounts of canned foods and bottles with BPA, and protect their own quality of life disruptions of health issues.   

            Eventually, everyone will age and become weaker, you can defy that fact a bit longer to your body from disapproving the diseases and risks by avoiding chemicals like BPA. Even though intake of this chemical and the likelihood of several others are only poisonous in excessive amounts and found everywhere, it can still deter you with health risks that are unavoidable. With almost 90% of the U.S. population that has BPA in their urine (Kristoff, 3), it does not contemplate the fact that this is a matter that should be overlooked. With all this research condoned and facts readied, as with several other countries who taking action against BPA, manufacturers who want to earn money off manufacturing BPA no longer can deny the harmful effects of it in our lives. Simple procedures as such not microwaving your plastic container and switching to a glass or ceramic bowl, guarantees the foods you eat are safe by a whole nother factor. Commanding and changing actions can benefit your entire family as well as future descendants good by getting rid of this harmful chemical. Shown through research and experienced by people, BPA cannot guarantee the best productive and satisfied life without many concerns in mind, only steady changes into naturally occurring substances will be able to lead you towards one.

Works Cited

Abrams, Rachel. Facing Consumer Pressure, Companies Start to Seek Safe Alternatives to BPA. The New York Times, 15 June 2015. Web. 12 November 2015.

           Bilbrey, Jenna. BPA-Free Plastic Containers May Be Just as Hazardous. Scientific                American,11 August. 2014. Web. 12 November 2015

Blum, Deborah. In Plastics and Cans, a Threat to Women. The New York Times, 28 August

2014. Web. 11 November 2015.

Groopman, Jerome. The Plastic Panic. The New Yorker, 31 May. 2010. Web. 12 November

2015

Hamilton, Jon. How Much BPA Exposure is Dangerous? National Public Radio, 30 March                2012.Web. 12 November 2015.
Hexa Research. Bisphenol A (BPA) Market Analysis, Market Size, Application         Analysis, Regional Outlook, Competitive Strategies And Forecasts, 2014 To 2020: Hexa                  Research. Digital Journal, n.d. Web. 12 November 2015

Kristof, Nicholas. Big Chem, Big Harm? The New York Times, 25 Aug. 2012. Web. 12

November 2015.

O’Connor, Anahad. BPA in Cans and Plastic Bottles Linked to Quick Rise in Blood Pressure.

The New York Times, 8 December 2014. Web. 12 November 2015.

n.a. Bisphenol A (BPA): Use in Food Contact Application. U.S. Food and Drug                                   Administration, November 2014. Web. 12 November 2015

University of Missouri-Columbia. Female rats struggle to find their way study from MU and              the NCTR/FDA. EurekAlert, 20 Oct. 2015. Web. 11 November 2015.

Urbina, Ian. Think Those Chemicals Have Been Tested? The New York Times, 13 April                   2013.Web. 12 November 2015.

Tavernise, Sabrina. F.D.A. Makes It Official: BPA Can’t Be Used in Baby Bottles and Cups.

The New York Times, 17 July 2012. Web. 12 November 2015.