Plastic NOT fantastic

During the last couple of months I've been reading A LOT about the chemicals that surround us and that make their way into our food, inside our skin and into the air we breathe. It has been a real eye opener, to say the least, and it has made me realize that more of us - preferably the whole world, need to know how chemicals in our packacking to our cosmetics and furniture are affecting us and our children.

One of the chemicals that should be on every person's watch-out-for list is bisphenol A (BPA). BPA is a toxic plastics chemical found in polycarbonate (hard) plastic and food cans. There have been numerous studies carried out to understand the health effects of BPA and many studies have concluded that the chemical, even at low doses, can be harmful to fetuses, infants and young children. As a result, several countries, including Denmark and Canada, have banned BPA in baby bottles and Japan's can industry has even gone as far as to replace all BPA-containing cans with BPA-free ones (source: Wikipedia).

Sweden is one of the countries that is yet to ban BPA, but is likely to introduce some kind of restriction next year. Until then, it's up to citizens like me to take an active role in removing the toxic chemical from our homes. Luckily, several companies have decided to take the matter in their own hands and, as a result, I've been able to purchase BPA-free baby bottles and pacifiers. However, BPA still exists in the lining of my children's food cans and I find it almost impossible to know if my children's plastic cutlery or toys contain BPA.

Just to illustrate: The other day, I found the number "7" on the back of my son's plastic food plate made by BabyBjörn, a Swedish producer of baby products. Having read that BPA exists in plastic marked with the recycling numbers "7" and "3", I threw the plate in the bin (my plastic recycling bin, that is). A few days later, I contacted BabyBjörn and they told me that although their plastic is marked with the number seven that doesn't automatically mean that it contains BPA. In fact, the number seven just means "other" plastics whicih may contain BPA.

Wikipedia says: "Some type 7 plastics, such as polycarbonate (sometimes identified with the letters "PC" near the recycling symbol) and epoxy resins are made from BPA. Type 3 (PVC) can also contain BPA as an antioxidant in plasticizers. This is particularly true for "flexible PVC", but not true for PVC pipes."

I also mailed the Environmental Working Group, which is an organization in the US that is informing the public about harmful chemicals, to find out if there is an easier way to find out if the plastic in my house contains BPA without contacting the company every time. I'm still to receive an answer, but I'm determined to learn more about this chemical to protect the health of my family and families around me. Until next time, live green!

To find out more about BPA, click here and here.