Bisphenol-A (BPA) is everywhere. In addition to cans and plastic packaging, it is found in thermal paper and carbonless copy paper, which are commonly used for receipts, airline tickets, event tickets, and labels. It is so ubiquitous that it was found in the urine of 95% of all people the CDC tested between 1988-1994.
One study found a strong correlation between body mass index (BMI) and BPA levels. That, to a dietitian, seems like a vicious cycle, since a lot of the foods I personally believe are associated with obesity (sodas, chips) are packaged in BPA-containing materials. So not only do you expose yourself to the chemical when exposing those foods and beverages…you are highly likely encouraging your body to hang on to those chemicals if you're eating them in a way that is out of balance with your daily caloric needs.
Staying lean, however, is not a guarantee you'll be protected. It is looking like BPA can elevate liver enzymes, a common problem with PCOS. And that problem persists even in normal weight individuals.
Scientists do believe BPA passes through the body very quickly. However, some of the problems associated with BPA seem to be nonreversible. And unborn babies and newborns, who are going through rapid development, seem to be highly susceptible to this effect. That means that you can reduce your exposure to BPA and lower your current levels, but you may not be able to undo all of the changes that BPA had the opportunity to make. You can eliminate future problems…but you may not be able to undo all that's been done.
I really want this blog to be positive and not scary. However, this is a very serious issue. Since many of you are eating to conceive and eventually eating for more than yourself, it's important to understand that how you choose to eat can impact more than just you. And it's not just about eating to conceive…it's about eating for a healthier next generation.
The less packaging your food comes in, over time, the less likely it is you'll be consuming BPA.
Gehring, Martin; Tennhardt, L., Vogel, D., Weltin, D., Bilitewski, B. (2004) (PDF). Bisphenol A Contamination of Wastepaper, Cellulose and Recycled Paper Products. Waste Management and the Environment II. WIT Transactions on Ecology and the Environment, vol. 78. WIT Press. http://rcswww.urz.tu-dresden.de/~gehring/deutsch/dt/vortr/040929ge.pdf. Retrieved 2009-10-15.
http://arstechnica.com/old/content/2008/09/plastic-additive-bpa-connected-to-diabetes-heart-disease.ars