I’m sure that by now you’ve come across the term “BPA” when shopping for plasticware or have at least heard in conversation. Bisphenol A, or BPA, is an industrial chemical used since the 1950’s to fabricate certain plastics and resins.
BPA is used in the production of plastics that are intended to be in direct contact with food, such as plastic packaging, food storage containers, and water bottles.
BPA is also found in epoxy resins, a material used to coat the inside of metal products, including canned goods, water supply lines, and bottle tops. Dental sealants and composites may also contain BPA.
You most likely had some sort of understanding of this information, that’s why many water bottles and storage containers advertise, “BPA Free” on the packaging.
But did you know that BPA is also found in receipt paper? The paper that employees must touch relentlessly throughout their shift. The paper that customers collect for their records. Not only do we touch receipt paper daily, but we touch it multiple times throughout the day.
Recent studies have found that individual thermal receipt paper can contain BPA in quantities 250 to 1,000 times greater than what is found in a canned food item.
Is BPA Dangerous?
BPA is metabolized in the liver and is excreted through urine. Its phenolic structure has exhibited to allow BPA to interact with estrogen receptors, inhibiting important processes involving estrogen receptor dependent signaling pathways.
Unfortunately, BPA leaches out of its host (i.e., plastic containers, receipt paper, etc.) and directly exposes you to its chemical properties.
Research has shown that BPA plays a role in the development of endocrine disorders including:
- Infertility
- Precocious puberty
- Hormone dependent tumors, such as breast and prostate cancer
- Metabolic disorders, including PCOS
Researchers have linked BPA exposure to health and developmental implications in children, including:
- ADHD
- Anxiety and depression
- Early puberty
- Diabetes
- Obesity
- Heart disease
Children and fetuses are particularly vulnerable because they are experiences phases of accelerated development.
In early development, exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals can impede and alter crucial processes that happen within the body, such as development of the brain or lungs. Typically, the changes in the process due to the hormone disrupting chemicals is irreversible.
Is BPA an Endocrine Disruptor?
BPA is considered an Endocrine Disrupting Chemical (EDC) due to its ability to act as a xenoestrogen. EDCs are dangerous because they prevent the binding of natural hormones to their receptors. They also mimic hormones, exaggerating their effects.
BPA functions on a hormonal level by disrupting hormonal balance and influencing estrogenic effects by binding with estrogen-related receptors. Estrogenic effects include:
- Nausea/vomiting
- Bloating
- Headaches
- Stomach cramps
- Weight gain
- Hyperpigmentation
- Hair loss
- Abnormal uterine bleeding
- Vaginal itching
- Anaphylaxis
How to Reduce BPA Exposure
- Use alternatives to plastic, such as glass, porcelain, or stainless steel.
- If you do choose to use plastic, buy products labeled “BPA Free.”
- Avoid using heat with plastic containers. Don’t microwave your food or beverage in plastic, use an alternative material when you drink hot tea or coffee, and avoid washing plastic in the dishwasher. Heat can breakdown the material and allow BPA to leach into food and beverages.
Anita Welch 
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