Hard Plastics: Potentially Toxic?

I thought you should know about this recent study that questions the health effects of BPA, a substance used in hard plastics. It’s also used in the lining for canned goods. Mostly people are afraid of the impact it has on babies – it’s used in baby bottles.

Here’s the article. http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/04/24/healthscience/22well.php

National Public Radio recently interviewed the scientist who did the study, and asked him if consumers should stay away from plastic containers that use BPA (basically all hard plastics). He didn’t want to commit to an emphatic “yes” or “no.” This is because they’ve only studied the impact of BPA in animals and till they study it in humans, they don’t know for sure.

Listen to the NPR Interview with Michael D. Shelby, director of the Center for the Evaluation of Risks to Human Reproduction: Hard Plastics – Potentially Toxic

But don’t stress too much just yet, as Michael D. Shelby said, the evidence is not conclusive.  If you can avoid hard plastic, do so, if not, try to minimize your use.   The key to absorbing this information without going insane is to live as naturally and simply as possible, making little improvements every day.

For your sanity (and ours), we’ve created some useful links in case you want to stay away from BPA:

BPA-free storage containers

BPA-free baby products

BPA-free canned goods