Phthalates and BPA

What Are Phthalates & BPA?

According to the FDA, certain chemicals such as Phthalates and Bisphenol A (BPA) are considered environmental contaminants because they can migrate into foods from packaging materials, plastics, and other consumer products.

Phthalates: Phthalates are chemicals commonly used to make plastics more flexible and harder to break. They can be found in food packaging, processing equipment, and various consumer products. Exposure primarily occurs through diet, especially when food comes into contact with phthalate-containing packaging materials.

Bisphenol A (BPA): BPA is a chemical frequently used to produce polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins, materials commonly found in water bottles, food storage containers, and food can linings. BPA exposure typically occurs when the chemical leaches from containers into food or beverages.

These contaminants have drawn attention from the FDA due to their potential impact on health, especially hormonal and developmental effects on infants, young children, and pregnant women.According to the EPA, pesticides are widely used in producing food to control pests such as insects, rodents, weeds, bacteria, mold and fungus.

The science and our understanding of chemical risk evolves and EPA continues to reevaluate each pesticide’s safety. However, this evaluation takes place every 15 years. Recent headlines around the safety of the most commonly used pesticide in America, glyphosate (the active ingredient in Round-up) and EPA’s continued allowance, has caused concern and questions by consumers over the safety of exposure to low levels of pesticides, and rightfully so.

Phthalates and BPAs

What are Phthalates?

The effects of phthalates exposure often occur gradually, accumulating in the body over time, potentially causing damage that may not be immediately noticeable. Children are especially vulnerable to lead, mercury, arsenic, and cadmium as their bodies are still developing.

What is BPA?

BPA (bisphenol A) is a chemical used in making certain plastics and resins. It’s often found in products like baby bottles, water bottles, food containers, and even the lining of some cans. BPA can sometimes seep out of these products and into food or water, especially when they’re heated. Studies suggest that BPA might have harmful effects on health, including as an Endocrine Disruptor. Recently some products have started to be labeled “BPA-free,” however, a lot of food containers and food packaging still contain BPAs, so it’s important to know which food products might result in exposure.

What is an Endocrine Disruptor?

Hormones are partially responsible for internal regulation of the human body. They act as messengers, allowing different parts of the body to communicate information about growth and other body functions. “Endocrine disruptor” is a term used to label small molecules that mimic or disrupt the functions of hormones in our body. They mimic hormones by having almost an identical chemical structure – like having two keys that are different colors but they both can unlock the same lock. Sometimes these chemicals distort or change messages from one part of the body to another, resulting in abnormal growth patterns across the lifespan including pregnancy.

How do phthalates and BPA get into our food and our bodies?

Food stored in BPA-containing packaging can release these chemicals into the food, especially when exposed to high temperatures or frequent movement. When that food is consumed, the phthalates and BPA come with it. After digestion, BPA components can be absorbed into the bloodstream, traveling to many parts of the body including the reproductive system. Here Pthalates can become Endocrine Disruptors mimicking or disrupting processes in the reproductive system and potentially resulting in the harmful effects described previously.

Effects of Phthalates on Young Children and Pregnant Women

Phthalates that enter the body can cause problems for women like a delayed period, increased appetite, and acne breakouts. It can also complicate becoming pregnant, and increase the likelihood of miscarriage, early births, or late births with complications. Phthalates can be passed from mom to baby during pregnancy and children are particularly vulnerable to the effects of phthalate exposure as their bodies are still developing. In boys, these chemicals can interfere with the development of reproductive organs, leading to problems like malformed genitals, low sperm count, and even cancer. For girls, it can cause periods to start early and limit the number of eggs they develop leading to infertility. In all young children these chemicals can make puberty start too early or too late.

Regulations of Phthalates and BPA in our Food Packaging

There are currently no federal regulations in the US that limit or monitor the amount of phthalates or BPA in food products. Proposition 65, a California regulation that addresses chemicals known to be harmful to the reproductive system or cause cancer, requires businesses with a product containing these chemicals of concern to display a public warning on their packaging about the chemicals. Prop 65 applies to food packaging, but California does not have any laws or regulations that limit or monitor phthalates or BPA in actual food products. However, enforcement rates are low and penalties for failing to comply often only amount to fines.