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About The Southwest Portland Post. (Portland, Oregon) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (June 1, 2018)
6 • The Southwest Portland Post FEATURES June 2018 Dear EarthTalk: Why on earth would cans and other food storage containers contain toxic BPA that can make us sick? Is there any way to avoid it? – Melinda Billings, Hixson, TN If you like the occasional can of tomato soup or diced pears, chances are you’re walking around with trace amounts of bisphenol A in your bloodstream. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 90 per- cent of us are walking around with trace amounts of this toxic synthetic chemical in our bloodstreams. Bisphenol A is commonly used as a constituent component in the epoxy resins lining the inside of cans, boxes and other food storage containers to prevent corro- sion and breakages. One of a class of so-called “hormone disrupting” or “endocrine mimicking” chemicals, Bisphenol A fools the body into thinking it’s the naturally occurring hormone estrogen. The result can be negative effects on brain development, metabolism and the reproductive system. Bisphenol A expo- sure has also been linked to cancer, heart disease and other serious health disorders. A good old can of soup might not be as good for you as you would expect, given the toxic chemicals in the lining of the can itself. (Photo by Matthew Hurst, FlickrCC) “Evidence suggests the developing fe- tus and young child are most at risk, but adolescents also appear uniquely vulner- able,” reports the Environmental Working Group, a leading non-profit research and advocacy group. Of course, the harm isn’t limited to children and teens; adults can suffer the ill effects of a lifetime of bio-accumulated Bisphenol A coursing through their veins as well. According to the Environmental Working Group, we can cut down on the amount of Bisphenol A we ingest by steering clear of canned and processed foods and replacing them with fresh, frozen and dried options. Get your tomato soup from the hot prepared foods section of your local natural foods market or, better yet, make it yourself from scratch from organic ingredients. And instead of buying diced pears in a can, buy a real pear and dice it up yourself. “For those who cannot avoid foods in BPA-lined cans, rinsing the food in water may help lower the level of BPA in the food,” reports the Envi- ronmental Working Group, adding that rinsing cuts back on other un- healthy additives—such as sodium on beans or sweet syrup on fruit—as well. The group also warns never to heat up food directly in a can: “Transfer it to a stainless-steel pot or pan for stovetop cooking, or microwave in glass – not plastic.” If you’re not sure whether your favorite foods are at risk of contain- ing Bisphenol A, you can search the group’s Food Scores database to find out, and also to look for safer alter- natives that don’t contain hormone disruptors. The U.S. Food and Drug Adminis- tration banned Bisphenol A in baby bottles, sippy cups and infant for- mula packaging, but the vast majority of us are still at risk. Environmental and health advo- cates are calling on the agency to ban Bisphenol A outright from any packaging materials that come into contact with foods, drinks or water, but so far officials don’t seem inclined to take the now ubiquitous chemical off the market completely. In 2014 and again in 2016, Demo- crats in Congress floated legislation that would have banned Bisphenol A and other potentially dangerous food additives in all food storage contain- ers, but neither bill ever made it out of committee. Without any help from the govern- ment, then, it’s up to us to wean our- selves off of Bisphenol A by making smart choices about what we buy and what we eat. Contacts: U.S. Center for Disease Control, Bisphenol A Fact Sheet. En- vironmental Working Group, Food Scores. EarthTalk® is a syndicated column produced by Roddy Scheer and Doug Moss and is a registered trademark of the nonprofit EarthTalk. To donate, visit www.earthtalk.org. Send questions to: question@earthtalk.org. You know your FAMILY. We know SENIOR LIVING. Together, we will find the RIGHT PLACE. INDEPENDENT LIVING • ASSISTED LIVING • MEMORY CARE A Place for Mom has helped over a million families fi nd senior living solutions that meet their unique needs. Our Advisors are trusted, local experts who can help you understand your options. Here’s what’s included with our free service: A dedicated local Advisor Hand-picked list of communities Full details and pricing Help scheduling tours Move in support There’s no cost to you! CALL (844) 269-4351 ! We’re paid by our partner communities Joan Lunden, journalist, former host of Good Morning America and senior living advocate.
