Elise Bolster

BPA: U.S. Food Supply

The truth about BPA and the
negative affects on our health.

December 2012

Where you can find

BPA:

Background

Water bottles

What is BPA?

Convenience foods

BPA is Bisphenol A, a chemical that is found in the form of

polycarbonates and epoxy resins, hard plastics.

Soup cans
Canned fruits and
vegetables
Plastics with numbers 3,
6, 7
Food and beverage
containers
Plastic silverware

When were they created?

Created in the 1950s after WWII to create a less expensive
plastic for packaging.
How are they harming us?
BPAs mimic the hormone estrogen which disrupt the
reproductive development, body weight, and metabolic
homeostasis, and neurodevelopment and also may cause
mammary and prostate cancer (Nelson et al, 2012) In addition
it may be a contributor to metabolic diseases, diabetes, obesity,
and heart disease.

In 2007, the U.S. produced over 1.1 million tons, in

comparison to what was produced globally in 2006,
4.4 million tons.

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issue, date

Who is affected?
Age, Gender, Socioeconomic Status, Diet & Environment
Gender

Age
Younger populations are
at greatest risk for the
negative affects of BPA
because they consume
more food per body
weight, especially babies
and infants.
Adults could potentially
suffer from diabetes,
cardiovascular disease,
asthma, cancer, and
other metabolic diseases.

Women are risk for breast

cancer because of the
characteristics of BPA in
being an estrogen mimic.
May be one of the causes
of puberty at a younger age
in women.
Men are risk for prostate
cancer and potentially
reduction in sperm count
and erectile functioning. In
addition decrease in
testosterone levels.
(Schrader and Estill, 2010)

Socioeconomic status

Diet & Environment

NHANES found that urinary

traces were highest among
the lower income households
and individuals that suffer
from other disparities in
health and exposure.

Diet is main exposure

to BPA.

Children between ages 6-11

who are on emergency food
have 54% highest traces of
BPA. (Nelson et al, 2012,
p.11)
Individuals with higher
socioeconomic status can
afford better food!

Food that is packaged

with products
containing BPA are
main source into our
bodies.
Environment may
depend on where you
live and the access you
have to healthy nonBPA products.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

Nelson, J. W., Scammell, M., Hatch, E. E., &
Webster, T. F. (2012). Social disparities in
exposures to bisphenol A and polyfluoroalkyl
chemicals: A cross-sectional study within
NHANES 2003-2006. Environmental Health:
A Global Access Science Source, 11(1), 1-15.
doi:10.1186/1476-069X-11-10

1. Avoid using plastic

2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

with hot food or drink.

Use bottles and containers
that say BPA free.
Reduce the amount of
canned food you eat.
Carry your own glass,
steel, or ceramic water
bottle.
Dont cook food in plastic
containers or use
roasting/steaming bags
Plastics with recycling
symbol 2, 4, 5 are OK.
Keep all plastic out of heat
and sun. (Exposure to
chemicals in plastic, 2012)

References:
Exposure to chemicals in plastic. (2012)
Retrieved on September 11, 2012 from
http://www.breastcancer.org/risk/fact
ors/plastic

Schrader, S., Estill, C. (2010) NTP research

concept: exposure characterization and
reproductive health of men working with
bispenol A in the United States. Retrieved in
November
http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/NTP/About_NTP/B
SC/2010/NovDec/15_BPAhumanreproductiv
ehealth_DRC%20_BSCnov2010.pdf#search=B
PA
U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services. (2010). Bispenol A (BPA): Use in food
contact applications. Retrieved from
http://www.fda.gov/newsevents/publichealthf
ocus/ucm064437.htm