Bisphenol A (BPA) is a compound commonly found in water bottles, food cans, and baby bottles. Canned foods have been tested and out of the 95 products, 57 contained traces of BPA. Pasta, soup, and baby formula contained the highest levels of this compound. Products containing or made from BPA have been on the market for over 50 years but only in recent months has the safety of this compound been questioned. A study conducted in the USA concluded that over 95% of people had been exposed to BPA. This is a growing concern because BPA is found in so many products that people use on a daily basis. It is considered a hormone disrupter because it mimics estrogen.

A hormone disrupter is a substance that can interfere with the body’s natural production of hormones . This can cause reproductive, behavioral, and developmental problems. Studies have linked BPA exposure to many different health concerns that can be extremely serious. Permanent damages to the genital tract, a decline in testosterone, breast cancer, prostate cancer, and hyperactivity have all been linked to low BPA exposure in humans. Fetuses, infants, and children are especially sensitive to BPA because they do not have fully developed detoxification systems. Canada is one of the first countries that have started the ball rolling to conduct extensive research on this compound to determine the health affects that are being claimed. Health Canada also intends to ban plastic baby bottles and is the first country in the world to take such action.

Until there is a worldwide ban on BPA we all must be extremely careful in what products we buy. Using aluminum water bottles, eating mostly fresh food that is not canned, avoiding canned foods that contain BPA in the containers, and using glass or safe plastic bottles for children are all great ways to avoid being exposed to BPA.