EPA takes aim at BPA
by Phyllis Wheeler ~ June 12th, 2010.
The Environmental Protection Agency is considering regulating BPA, bisphenyl A, the synthetic estrogen used to modify plastics such as those used in water and soda bottles. It causes cancer and endocrine problems, research is suggesting. Recently I found out that large amounts are used to coat credit card receipts, or anything using thermal paper.
March 10, the agency issued an action plan under the Toxic Substances Control Act involving:
- Adding BPA to the agency’s chemical Concern List.
- Ordering data collection on BPA in U.S. water supplies.
- Evaluating the reported disproportionate effect BPA has on children.
- Evaluating the effect on wildlife.
- Finding ways to reduce unnecessary BPA exposure and releases into the environment while further studies are being conducted.
I am happy to see this. Apparently 1 million pounds per year of BPA are released into the environment, and no one has been a watchdog for us. It’s about time.
Want to avoid BPA? Don’t eat canned food. Don’t touch credit card receipts. (I know, we have to touch them.) And of course, don’t drink water or soda that has been stored in plastic bottles.
And where else are those one million pounds per year being used? Somewhere else that impacts each of us, I bet!
