Chemical Month | Bisphenol A

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a man-made organic compound used to make polycarbonate plastic and epoxy compounds. Shown to mimic the hormone estrogen, it has been linked to cancer, heart disease, diabetes and lower semen quality. BPA has also been linked to childhood developmental problems. A study led by the Harvard School of Public Health found that more than 90 percent of pregnant women had detectable levels of BPA.

What is most worrying is that BPA is present in so many consumer products, including plastic bottles, canned goods, CDs, sunglasses, dental devices and fillings, household electronics and cigarettes. Researchers from the University of Missouri said that more than 8 billion pounds of BPA are used every year to manufacture consumer goods.

"In general, plastics that are marked with recycle codes 1, 2, 4, 5, and 6 are very unlikely to contain BPA," according the U.S. Department of Health. "Some, but not all, plastics that are marked with recycle codes 3 or 7 may be made with BPA."

The DOH says, "While BPA is not proven to harm children or adults, these newer studies have led federal health officials to express some concern about the safety of BPA...It is clear that the government and scientists and doctors need more research to better understand the potential human health effects of exposure to BPA, especially when it comes to the impact of BPA exposure on young children."

Canada has gone a step further. In September 2010, it became the first nation to declare BPA as a toxic substance, following a four-year study. According to the Globe and Mail , a 2010 Statistics Canada survey found that 91 per cent of Canadians tested positive for BPA.

But Canadians still have about half the concentrations of BPA than Americans, according to a new study, a fact that may be linked to the nation's differences in food packaging and thermal receipt paper. A separate study found high quantities of BPA in U.S. shopping receipts and dollar bills.

"BPA cannot be avoided, even by the most conscious consumer," said Erika Schreder, a scientist at the Washington Toxics Coalition (WTC) and the author of the shopping receipts report.

"This unregulated use of large amounts of BPA is having unintended consequences."

GET INVOLVED @ 13.7 BILLION YEARS