Bisphenol A is used primarily to make plastics. Polycarbonate plastic, which is clear and nearly shatter-proof, is used to make a variety of common products including baby and water bottles, sports equipment, medical and dental devices, dental fillings and sealants, eyeglass lenses, CDs and DVDs, and household electronics. Epoxy resins containing bisphenol A are used as coatings on the inside of almost all food and beverage cans.
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."
Until other companies follow suit or the FDA changes its stance, there are several steps you can take to limit your exposure. And yes, one of those steps is to replace your beat-up polycarbonate water bottle and to stop using polycarbonate containers to hold food and beverages. If you'd rather not buy new containers, at least make sure yours aren't scratched and that you wash them by hand - extreme heat and degradation increase the likelihood of BPA leaching out.
Here are some other steps you can take, courtesy of the Green Guide Institute:
- Use glass baby bottles or switch to polypropylene bottles that are labeled "5" on the bottom.
- Limit your intake of canned foods or buy from makers who don't use BPA in the lining. (Eden Foods claims to use an alternative)
- Buy soups and milk that are packaged in cardboard cartons that are lined with the safer materials of aluminum and polyethylene.
- Buy or can your own fruits and vegetables in glass jars.
- Try to find out if your favorite winemaker uses vats lined with epoxy resin -- such wines can contain six times the BPA of canned foods.
As seen in picture two, refillable bottles save the environment! So make the switch from plastic water bottles to refillable BPA-free bottles.
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