Bisphenol A (BPA) Plastic

Find Out Why Your Plastic Water Bottle Is Unsafe

Bisphenol A (BPA) was invented in the 1930s when scientists were looking for a way to make synthetic estrogens.

This substance is also the building block for plastics that are manufactured from polycarbonate. The purpose of BPA is to help strengthen the plastic and made it less breakable. 

How do you know your plastic bottle is made of polycarbonate? Look at the bottom of the bottle, there is usually a recycling-arrows logo with a number 7 in it. This is known as the Plastic Identification Code (PIC). 

There are however many sources that say not all number 7 PC has BPA. Just by looking at the bottle can't tell you whether there is BPA in it. Let's be safe than sorry then. Avoid any PC bottle or container. 

Polycarbonate or PC is a popular material for food container and reusable water bottles (not those bottled water). Since PC contains BPA, there is a risk that it can leach into the water in your bottle.

In fact, it's known that BPA can leach into the water in these PC bottles. 

Leaching occurs when the molecules in the plastic disintegrate through long use, hard scrubbing on the surface and use of heat. 

So, what's the risk of BPA?

1. It is toxic and can cause cancer as well as genetic damage.

2. Since BPA is a synthetic estrogen (female hormone), it is harmful to males such as altering your masculinity. In other words, lowering your testorone and fertility.

3. Studies found it to affect the prostate, accelerates puberty, cause birth defects and reproductive problems. 

Besides the use of BPA in plastic bottle and container, these BPA plastic material is also used in lining tin cans such as canned chicken soup, infant formula and other canned food.

The lining of these cans help to maintain the flavour of the food and avoid it's contact with the aluminium or metal can. Thus, your food do not have any metallic taste when you pour it out from the cans.

Best to avoid those canned food then.

So what's the best way to avoid BPA?

Use glass bottles or container. Why do you need to pay a high price to get a Tupperware (which might have BPA) with air in it when you can reuse your pasta sauce glass bottle. 

There are even many bottled organic juice in glass bottles. (Although we recommend you to make your own juice.) For the same price you buy a plastic bottle (with air in it), you can buy one of these bottled juice in glass bottles. Reuse the bottles.

There are also many people who adore the SIGG bottles. Research shows that their bottles are safe despite having inner lining. SIGG tells people that the lining is a secret formula much like the secret ingredient of Coke. Well, go ahead and get one if you think it's safe.

There are other brands of water container too such as Klean Kanteen. They are stainless steel and has no lining. Still, many people claimed that their water has the metallic taste. We don't know if there is any harm in storing water in a Klean Kanteen.

Use glass if you have any doubt. It's also safer for the environment. Number 7 PC is not a very good recycling material.

Note - Plastic Identification Code

<1> PETE, aka PET (polyethylene terephthalate) Used for most transparent bottles, such as water, soda, cooking oil, and medicine bottles. Generally safe to use (not reuse); generally recycled. 

<2> HDPE (high density polythylene) Sturdy, rigid plastic found in reusable food storage containers, milk and detergent bottles. Generally safe; generally recycled. 

<3> PVC (polyvinyl chloride) Used for plastic wrap, and detergent and cooking oil bottles. Additives in PVC can increase the risk of birth defects and hormone-related cancers. Its production can be hazardous to workers and the environment. Generally not safe; not recycled. 

<4> LDPE (low density polyethylene) Flexible plastic used for bags or wraps, such as produce bags and baby-bottle liners. Most number 4 plastics are not designed for reuse. Generally safe; generally not recycled. 

<5> PPE, aka PP (polypropylene) Pliable plastic found in squeeze bottles, reusable food containers, and yogurt and margarine tubs. Generally safe; generally recycled. 

<6> PS (polystyrene) Used in rigid take-out containers and foam meat trays. Can leach styrene when heated, a possible endocrine disruptor and human carcinogen. Not safe when heated; generally not recycled. 

<7> Other; most often refers to PC (polycarbonate) This plastic is most commonly used for baby bottles, five-gallon water jugs, and reusable sports water bottles. It can leach out the hormone-disruptor bisphenol A, especially when heated. Because this group can include various other plastics, it has limited recycling potential. 

Find out more about plastics here.

More on Bisphenol A.