I’ve written earlier posts about scientific studies linking bisphenol A (BPA) exposure to health problems. In the past few years, numerous studies suggest the chemical can lead to serious illnesses, such as reproductive abnormalities, prostate and breast cancer, neurological damage, insulin resistance and diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular disease.

Most people assume that the government wouldn’t allow Americans to be exposed to BPA if it wasn’t safe, but while the FDA has been reviewing the science, as of yet, no action has been taken. So today, the NRDC is calling on the FDA to ban this horrible chemical from our food packaging.

BPA can be found in everything from cans of tomato sauce and the liners of infant formula cans to sippy cups and baby bottles. Parents like myself shouldn’t have to worry every time we serve our kids dinner or a bottle that we may be exposing them dangerous chemicals.

The major source of exposure for all ages is from food. BPA isn’t intentionally added to our food but it has been used in food packaging and containers since the 1960s when the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved BPA for that use. As a result of the contact between our food and BPA-laden packaging, the chemical ends up contaminating what we eat. In fact, aproximately 93% of people have some BPA in their bodies.

Meanwhile, our neighbors in Canada have also been reviewing the science and have just announced they are going to ban BPA from baby bottles and limit the amount allowed in infant formula.

There is solid science suggesting that BPA is not safe. Even federal agencies like the National Toxicology Program have “some concern” that the chemical could negatively affect human health. 

We can’t risk making the wrong decision about BPA.

To learn more about BPA and NRDC’s petition, go to: http://docs.nrdc.org/health/hea_08102001a.pdf