Are You Safe? BPA Linked to Heart Disease

My CamelBak water bottle is BPA-free.

First off, I’d just like to thank my wonderful readers who gave me some awesome breakfast ideas. You’ve saved me from the oatmeal doldrums and possible starvation. OK, that second part was probably a stretch, but I’m just trying to get across my thankfulness. I have a big shopping list for the weekend, and I’ll let you know how it all goes.

Moving on to more depressing news…

Not a long time ago, a list of health problems—diabetes, birth defects, male sexual dysfunction, infertility, prostate cancer, and elevated liver enzymes—was linked to the chemical BPA (bisphenol A). Now, a new study reports the chemical may play a role in heart disease.

BPA: The facts
BPA, which has estrogen-like properties, is the main component of polycarbonate plastic, the hard stuff used to make water bottles, food storage containers, baby bottles, and even some kitchen equipment like popcorn makers. It’s also a major part of the lining that goes into canned goods. That was all well and good until some researchers discovered that—oops—BPA can leech into food. Heat, harsh detergents, microwaving, and plain ol’ age can intensify the effect. Some experts estimate about 90 percent of the U.S. population is exposed to BPA in some way or another. (The other 10 percent are so super rich they can painstakingly avoid anything with the slightest scent of BPA. At least that’s my guess.)

The FDA says…

“Based on the results of the migration studies conducted by FDA chemists, we have determined that the dietary exposure to BPA is low (3.7 ppb), the level that is orders of magnitude below the levels known to cause toxic effects in animals. Considering the low dietary exposure and the fact that BPA had not demonstrated adverse effects when consumed by animals in amounts of much higher (orders of magnitude) than humans would consume, FDA sees no reason at this time to ban or otherwise restrict the uses now authorized.”

All right then.

The BPA purge
You probably remember the big BPA purge that happened about a year ago. Nalgene—maker of bump-resistant reusable water bottles—announced it would transition from polycarbonate plastic to something a little less toxic. States like Minnesota and Connecticut banned the chemical from baby bottles and baby food. Manufacturers started churning out BPA-free baby bottles faster than you could say nap time.

The latest news
And now, this: Researchers confirmed a 2008 study that suggested BPA was linked to heart disease. For the current study, reported in the journal PLoS ONE, researchers analyzed urine samples for 1,493 people (wish you had that job, right?) between 2005 and 2006. They found that those with the highest concentrations of BPA in their urine had a 33 percent increased risk for coronary heart disease than those with the least amount of the chemical in them. The study’s authors say they don’t quite know why BPA affects the heart, but it could be that it causes oxidative stress (free radical damage linked to aging) and damage to blood vessel cells as it’s metabolized.

The bottom line
Sorry to say, this was just an association study. That means there’s no definitive cause and effect. Sure, BPA could be causing the increased heart disease risk in people with elevated levels, but that’s not a given. “It’s not clear whether the association is due to BPA or something else related to BPA exposure,” Michele Marcus, PhD, MPH, an epidemiologist at Emory University, told MedPage Today. The study’s authors gave a good example: A lot of BPA exposure is from the lining of soda cans. It could be that people who drink a lot of soda are at more of a risk for heart disease.

What you can do
Still don’t like the idea of a random chemical (safe or hazardous) leeching into your foods? There are a few things you can do:

1. Switch to BPA-free water bottles, baby bottles, cups, mugs, and cooking utensils.
2. Limit canned goods. Since throwing away all canned goods is impractical (and, let’s be honest, wasteful), stick with nonacidic foods. Acids—think tomatoes, citrus fruit, soda like Coke—can make BPA leeching worse. Oh, and skip canned beer. Alcohol can aggravate BPA leeching, too.
3. Keep leftovers in glass containers. If you won’t do that, at least avoid this equation: hot food + plastic container. The outcome isn’t so great.
4. Pick plastic containers labeled with the recycling codes 2 and 5. They have a slightly different makeup, so they’re not as harmful to your health.
5. Skip the water cooler. Who knew? The hard plastic domes are usually made with polycarbonate plastic.
6. Don’t microwave plastic containers, which can break down the plastic and release BPA into your food. Mmm, mmm, good.
7. Hand wash your plastic containers. (Insert obligatory sigh.) Harsh detergents and the heat of the dishwasher can break them down faster.

I’m going to be honest: As I was making that list, I realized more than a few ways I could lower my risk of getting too much BPA—just in case it’s dangerous. Do you do anything to prevent BPA exposure?