The environmental health risks associated with plastic are not new, but there is a lot of confusion surrounding them. Many people are unsure about whether or not plastic genuinely poses a risk to their health, but the latest reports seem to indicate that there could actually be quite a strong link between plastic bottles and cancer.
According to many toxicology experts, water bottles that are made from the hard and clear kind of plastic contain a chemical called Bisphenol A, otherwise called BPA, which may be a danger to human health. Studies have been carried out on animals, showing that BPA can be absorbed into living tissues and can then increase the rate of growth of the prostate, leading to prostate cancer. In addition to this, some studies have shown an apparent link between BPA and the onset of early puberty and the development of breasts in girls. This is thought to be a risk factor in the development of breast cancer.
The FDA, Canadian government and UK government have all now banned the use of BPA in baby bottles. The National Toxicology Program has been less clear in its recommendations, first expressing concern about the use of BPA in bottles and other packaging and then later redrafting the report and changing the terminology to express ‘minimal’ concern. Some sceptics believe this is because the plastic industry is huge and that big grocery chains have also been instrumental in defending BPA as they stand to lose personal profits if it is banned.
Other studies carried out recently have also linked BPA to a plethora of other serious health problems, including to abnormalities with liver enzymes, and to a link between poor cardiovascular health and BPA.
BPA water bottles are now available, and the general recommendation is to replace all your bottles with the new versions.