From WebMD:More than 90% of Americans carry the plastics chemical BPA in their bodies. But those with the highest BPA levels have the highest risk of heart disease.
BPA -- bisphenol A -- is one of the world's most heavily produced chemicals used to make PVC pipes, epoxy resins that line food cans, food packaging, and drink containers.
There's no way to avoid BPA entirely: It's in food, water, and air.
Some ways to reduce exposure to BPA:
- Don’t microwave polycarbonate plastic food containers. Polycarbonate containers that contain BPA usually have a No. 7 on the bottom.
- Reduce your use of canned foods. Eating just one canned soup/day for 5 days leads to 1,000% increase in bisphenol A (BPA) in the urine (WebMD, 2011).
- When possible, opt for glass, porcelain, or stainless steel containers, particularly for hot food or liquids.
Identification in plastics (Wikipedia)
There are seven classes of plastics used in packaging applications. Type 7 is the catch-all "other" class, and some type 7 plastics are made from bisphenol A monomer. Type 3 (PVC) can also contain bisphenol A as an antioxidant in plasticizers.
Types 1, 2, 4, 5, 6 do not use bisphenol A during polymerization or package forming.
References:
BPA May Be Linked to Heart Disease Risk. WebMD.
Controversy continues over safety of bisphenol A - Type “bisphenol A” (BPA) in PubMed & you get more than 6000 results. Lancet, 2011.
Exposures to dioxins and PCBs are associated with reduced growth during the peripubertal period http://goo.gl/w0WBO
Gestational BPA exposure affected behavioral and emotional domains at 3 years of age, especially among girls. Pediatrics, 2011.
Gestational BPA exposure affected behavioral and emotional domains at 3 years of age, especially among girls. Pediatrics, 2011.