Just in time for Earth Day, a miracle has happened.
Governments and retailers have woken up to the perils of Bisphenol A (BPA), a
toxic chemical found in polycarbonate plastic bottles, and are taking action.
Immediate and strong action.
95% of Americans have Bisphenol A in their bodies according
to a 2004 study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Bisphenol
A is synthetic sex hormone that mimics estrogen. Too much exposure while growing up is carcinogenic. It can cause reproductive damage and may lead to prostate
and breast cancer in adults. On Tuesday, the National Toxicology Program of the U.S. National Institutes of Health
declared evidence of links to cancer from Bisphenol A. And this stuff is in baby bottles and the
liners of baby food cans?
Bisphenol A can kiss our collective (fill in the blank). The
Canadian government announced this week that Canada will be the first country to
ban plastic baby bottles with Bisphenol A after concluding the chemical is
toxic. On Friday April 18, Wal-Mart
announced that it was immediately ceasing Canadian sales of food containers,
water bottles, baby bottles, sippy cups, and pacifiers that contain Bisphenol A,
and that it would phase out BPA baby bottles in U.S. stores by early 2009. Why do we have to wait?
On the same day, Nalgene announced it would phase
out Bisphenol A from its Outdoor line of products over the next few months. California State Senator Carole Migden has introduced a bill that would ban BPA from all toys and child care articles in California; it was just approved 4-3 by the
Senate Environmental Quality Committee. The heat is on.
How You Can Protect Yourself
Safe Baby Bottles: If you have a baby, use glass bottles or BPA-free bottles. This is essential for newborns. Great sources are Born Free, Lamby or Evenflo glass baby bottles, Medela, and Green To
Grow.
Glass or Metal Water Bottles: If you drink water, avoid plastic bottles that have become
warm or hot as the chemicals leach out into your water. Use a glass or metal water
bottle instead like a SIGG, a Klean Kanteen, or a new EarthLust. Fill up with filtered
tap water, drink, rinse, and repeat. BYOB. Toxin-free blue is the new green.
No or New Nalgene: If you are using a Nalgene reusable plastic water bottle,
throw it out or give it to someone you don’t like. Just kidding on the later.
Replace with a new Nalgene BPA-free bottle from their Everyday line or a
fashionable metal bottle in your favorite pattern like a SIGG.
Fresh, not Canned: Strive to eat fresh food over canned food. Nearly all can liners
contain BPA.
Doing the above will not only improve your health, it will
also save a ton of plastic, waste, and CO2 emissions. 99% of the time, what is
good for us and our health is good for the planet and vice-versa. That is
the beauty of the green movement. Everyone gets
a healthier and longer-lasting planet to call home. As Earth Day approaches,
let’s celebrate the victories and thank companies and elected officials for taking action. Let the singing and dancing begin.
p.s. Now that Bisphenol A is taking the heat, the
poison plastic PVC (polyvinyl chloride) and phthalates (plasticizers for vinyl)
are next. These carcinogens are found in everything from baby pacifiers, teething toys, and Barbie
dolls to medical devices, “fragrance”, and Chilewich place mats (made out
of a toxic woven vinyl called plynyl). Avoid vinyl at all costs. Just wait.
Just in time for Earth Day, a miracle has happened.
Governments and retailers have woken up to the perils of Bisphenol A (BPA), a
toxic chemical found in polycarbonate plastic bottles, and are taking action.
Immediate and strong action.
How You Can Protect Yourself
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