BPA: What it is and Why it's Dangerous

You’ve probably heard dozens of times how a bottle is BPA-free, or the water tank attached to your coffee maker doesn’t contain BPA, but what does that actually mean? And does it matter?

BPA stands for bisphenol A, which is a chemical that has long been used to make plastics and epoxy resins. It is commonly used in food and beverage products, including water and baby bottles, canned foods, and also industrially, in things like the lining in water pipes.

The problem with this chemical is that it’s been found to transfer from the lining of containers into both food and beverages, and then when an individual consumes the products, their BPA levels increase. Studies have found that high levels of BPA can be associated with hormone-like properties and can affect the brain, behavior, and prostate gland in fetuses, infants, and children — those found to be most susceptible to BPA because they are still growing and developing. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is still working to learn more about the chemical, but as they do, it’s important as a mother to try to keep yourself and, even more-so, your children BPA-free. Here are some tips from the FDA on how to do so.

1. Breastfeed when possible
2. Buy only baby bottles that are BPA-free
3. Avoid buying aluminum-lined canned goods
4. Don’t microwave polycarbonate plastics

To learn more about BPA, visit the FDA’s website at www.fda.gov.