Last week, the U.S. government's National Toxicology Program suggested that there may be some concern"" with Bisphenol A (BPA), a very common type of plastic found in a huge assortment of everyday household objects: electronics, CDs, medical equipment and, perhaps most importantly, water bottles. The greatest danger lies with plastic water bottles because BPA slowly leaches out into the drink the bottle contains. This is especially disquieting considering the vast amount of plastic Nalgene bottles (which contain this polymer) used on this campus and college campuses everywhere. Thus, until the government conducts more research, a temporary ban of BPA used in food containers is necessary.
In 2004, it was estimated that the United States alone produces over one million metric tons of BPA, with the greater majority going toward the production of food and drink containers. Its prevalence, indeed the prevalence of all plastic polymers, is because of its ability to withstand moderately high temperatures and its nearly shatter-proof structure. It may be in other recyclable plastics under the recycling symbol 7, however, traces of it can occasionally be found in type 3 plastics as well. Although BPA can be found as a resin on CDs and DVDs, it is most commonly found as a plastic polymer in nearly all Nalgene and baby bottles.
The greatest concern at this point is the amount of BPA found in baby bottles. At room temperature, BPA can leach out into the contents of the bottle at a relatively slow rate. When exposed to hot liquids, though, it has been reported to leach about 55 times faster, according to an article in Scientific American. As one could imagine, this could lead to a copious amount of the plastic being ingested by infants who are formula-fed, suggested to be a rate of up to 13 AZA¼g/kg per day. The Environmental Protection Agency considers an exposure of up to 50 AZA¼g/kg per day in adults safe, but laboratory studies have suggested ingestion of only 2 to 5 AZA¼g/kg/day of BPA may disrupt hormone pathways in humans.
Scientists are still hotly debating what amount of BPA can be safely consumed. However, recent studies conducted by the Tufts University School of Medicine in Boston have made a few unsettling conclusions. Its studies have shown that moderate levels of exposure to BPA during the developmental stages in humans can have carcinogenic effects and may actually produce the precursors to breast cancer. Considering infants ingest a greater amount of this polymer than most adults, this is particularly troublesome. Thus, temporarily banning this substance until more research is conducted is crucial. How can we possibly justify putting infants at risk solely for the sake of having a cheap and durable baby bottle?
BPA also poses several environmental risks, much like all other plastic polymers. Unlike most other plastics, however, BPA breaks down in soils fairly quickly. Yet, the sheer amount of it that spreads across the world more than makes up for this, interfering with plant growth and, according to Health Canada, disrupting the life cycles of fish and other animals. By reducing the amount of this compound being manufactured, we could not only be protecting ourselves from a potentially dangerous substance but also helping the environment.
Although no clear-cut evidence has been produced proving BPA can cause serious and irrevocable damage to humans, we still need to err on the side of caution in this case. Although we cannot ban BPA from being used to manufacture any products, we should not allow the use of this polymer in the production of objects that commonly come into contact with our foods and drinks until further research can prove it is safe. I think most people would agree that placing our health in jeopardy for the sake of having an inexpensive and durable plastic hold our drinks is simply ridiculous.
Ryan Dashek is a sophomore majoring in biology. Please send responses to opinion@dailycardinal.com.
