Go Natural

2008-09-25T13:02:00.002-05:00

Children who swim regularly in chlorinated pools are five times more likely to develop asthma.

The research team also found that children having regularly attended an outdoor pool before the age of seven were more likely to be allergic to cat or dust mite than those who had never attended an outdoor pool so young

Evidence suggests that drugs flushed down toilet damage the environment and reach drinking water supplies.

2008-09-16T13:55:00.001-05:00

At least 46 million Americans are drinking water from supplies tainted with minute concentrations of a vast array of pharmaceuticals.

The Real Story on Organic Dry Cleaning

2008-09-16T13:52:00.001-05:00

GreenEarth Cleaning is a process that involves a nontoxic, chemically inert, silicone-based chemical solvent. When disposed of, its ingredients decompose within days into silica, water, and trace amounts of carbon dioxide. All studies, including independent evaluations, have deemed it harmless to handlers and the environment. And it's definitely healthier than conventional dry cleaning.

Bisphenol A linked to diabetes, heart disease in humans

2008-09-16T13:49:00.001-05:00

People exposed to higher levels of a chemical in plastic food and beverage containers are more likely to develop cardiovascular disease and diabetes, according to a new scientific study published today.

For the 1,455 U.S. adults tested, the more BPA in their urine, the higher their rates of heart disease and diabetes, according to research by a British team of scientists published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. They also found a link between abnormal liver enzymes in people and BPA, suggesting that the chemical alters how the liver functions.

Is your house full of pesticides?

2008-08-20T09:56:00.001-05:00

The pesticide known as Triclosan, is a bacteria-zapping chemical found in a variety of products. Sure, it's effective, but is it really needed to keep things clean? The answer is no!

2008-08-20T09:55:00.000-05:00

Arsenic, a naturally occurring poison and carcinogen found in ground water, is strongly linked to adult-onset diabetes.

What's coming from your tap?

2008-08-19T09:48:00.001-05:00

Concerned about the cost of bottled water -- and its environmental consequences -- many people are turning back to tap water to quench their thirst. But as evidence mounts of contaminants in public systems, unease about the water supply is growing.

Ok, after reading this, I think it's time for my family to buy some sort of water filter system. There's a great comparison at the bottom of the article.

Bisphenol A is banned in Canada... leave it to American bureaucrats to ignore the dangers....

2008-08-19T09:46:00.002-05:00

California lawmakers Monday rejected restrictions on a chemical used in baby bottles and canned formula—despite consumer safety concerns that have led retailers to remove products containing the chemical from their shelves.

Why.. oh Why?

2008-08-19T09:45:00.001-05:00

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is refusing to disclose records about a new class of pesticides that could be playing a role in the disappearance of millions of honeybees in the United States...

Skin creams seem to cause tumours on mice

2008-08-15T09:06:00.001-05:00

The possible culprit? Sodium Laurel Sulphate and Mineral Oil. Read the full article here.

Send your kids to school PVC toxic free!

2008-08-07T11:10:00.000-05:00

The Center for Health, Environment and Justice (CHEJ) has created the first-ever Back-to-School Guide to PVC-Free School Supplies so you can make smarter and healthier shopping choices for your kids, family and environment.

2008-07-31T09:14:00.003-05:00

I'm not a cellphone user. (Ok, I have one, but it sits in my purse turned off, and is used only for "emergencies" etc.) But even I, upon reading this headline: Prenatal Cell Phone Exposure Tied to Behavior was concerned. Until, that is, I reached the end of the article where it states: "Another possible explanation for the observed association might be the lack of attention given to a child by mothers who are frequent users of cell phones," the researchers suggest. They note that mothers who used cell phones frequently were of lower socio-occupational status, more likely to have mental health and psychiatric problems, and more likely to have smoked while they were pregnant."

Better late than never...

2008-07-31T09:08:00.002-05:00

House passes major consumer safety bill with ban on lead, other chemicals in toys.

2008-07-30T08:58:00.002-05:00

The next time you make some microwave popcorn or cook a frozen pizza, consider this: The packaging of many of these products contains a chemical that the Environmental Protection Agency considers potentially carcinogenic and wants businesses to voluntarily stop using by 2015.

Studies show that this chemical -- perfluorooctanoic acid, or PFOA -- is present in 98% of Americans' blood and 100% of newborns. It doesn't break down and thus accumulates in the system over time.

Yes, I've stopped using microwave popcorn, and paper plates (the grease resistant coating is teflon), but I haven't stopped serving frozen pizza. I'm guessing there's a teflon coating on the cardboard. I can work around that.

Activists ask FDA to ban artificial food dyes after research supports possible link to ADHD

2008-07-17T08:54:00.002-05:00

New research indicates the synthetic dyes, used in food, can disrupt some children's behavior, and activists and consumer groups are asking for bans or limits on the dyes. A prestigious British medical journal recommended that doctors use dye-free diets as a first-line treatment for some behavior disorders; British regulators are pressuring companies to stop using the dyes, and some are complying.

The issue has generated much less attention on this side of the Atlantic. The FDA says the dyes are safe, and has no plans to limit their use.

"At this point, there's no evidence of a connection between dyes and children's behavior," says FDA consumer safety officer Judith Kidwell. She points out that in 1982, a National Institutes of Health panel examined the safety of artificial dyes and found no evidence of risk.

That attitude frustrates activists. "They're at least 20 years behind the science," says Michael F. Jacobson, executive director of the Center for Science in the Public Interest. Last month, the group petitioned the FDA to ban use of the dyes, as well as sodium benzoate, a common preservative that critics also suspect of contributing to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD.

At the very least, the FDA ought to give some consideration to what the British government is doing.

Deal with Clorox sparks Sierra Club feud

2008-07-17T08:51:00.003-05:00

The environmental group, better known for suing corporations than forging alliances with them, has agreed to promote a new line of eco-friendly Clorox products in exchange for a share of the profits. Some Sierra Club chapters are crying foul, and officers in northern Michigan even quit over the deal.

The walkout highlights the passionate debate among members of the Sierra Club over the partnership with Clorox, named one of a "dangerous dozen" chemical companies by the Public Interest Research Group in 2004. PIRG contended in the report that Clorox's handling of chemicals at U.S. production facilities left some 14 million people vulnerable to contamination in the case of an accidental release.

The Sierra Club has been fighting against Clorox for decades, trying to get them to be responsible, now they're partners with them? It doesn't make any sense.

Scotland's "Let's Go Green Together" campaign, results have been phenomenal.

2008-07-12T10:20:00.001-05:00

THOUSANDS of Scots have stepped up to the challenge of fighting climate change and are helping our country set a shining example to the rest of the world. With plans to slash damaging greenhouse gas emissions by 80 per cent by 2050, Scotland wants to set tougher targets than any other country in the world.

Shrink

2008-07-10T11:32:00.001-05:00

Shrink: Addressing the madness of over-consumption of paper. Why use less paper? Using less paper can make the world a fairer place. By using more than six times the world average, most Europeans and North Americans are using far more than our fair share of the Earth's resources. Paper production causes a wide range of harmful environmental impacts, so by using less of it you can reduce your pressure on forests, cut energy use and climate change emissions, limit water, air and other pollution and produce less waste. There are also negative social impacts and human rights abuses linked to paper production, particularly in southern countries. Reducing demand for paper will help to address these too.

2008-07-10T11:29:00.003-05:00

Researchers are hot on the trail of alternatives to the most widely used phthalate plasticizer, DEHP. The plasticizer is found in a wide array of consumer products from shower curtains to medical devices.

Do Vaccines cause Autism?

2008-07-01T08:47:00.002-05:00

A father who happens to be a top leading vaccine researcher while having an autistic daughter of his own, should know. According to Peter Hotez, president of the Sabin Vaccine Institute, the chair of George Washington University's department of microbiology, immunology and tropical medicine, and a consultant to the Gates Foundation, which is helping to develop vaccines to fight neglected diseases, and also the father of a teenager with autism; "This is not something that can be caused by a toxin after birth. This is a deeply patterned mis-wiring in the brain, and this is not how a toxin works," Peter Hotez told his wife. "It can only be a genetic condition that affects the whole neurobiology of development."

Does eating local foods boost your health?

2008-07-01T08:37:00.003-05:00

So far, there’s not real evidence that eating locally farmed food is better for you. But there are many reasons to think it might be. By definition, locally farmed food is not going to come from large commercial food companies, so people who eat locally aren’t going to consume as much processed food, which typically contains lots of refined carbohydrates, sugar, fat and preservatives.

Support your local CSA!

Toxic Popcorn

2008-07-01T08:34:00.001-05:00

California may become the first state to ban a class of potential carcinogens used in some popcorn bags, pizza boxes and other grease-resistant food packaging.

Scientists have found that when the paper packaging is heated - when popcorn is microwaved, for example - the substances known broadly as perfluorinated chemicals can break down into compounds that are absorbed into food and then leach into the bloodstream.

Senate Bill 1313 by Sen. Ellen Corbett, D-San Leandro, would require the removal of PFCs from food packaging and direct manufacturers to use safe alternatives.

Besides food packaging, PFOA is also commonly used in Teflon and other stain-resistant coatings. PFOS is used in firefighting foam and cleaning products and was a key ingredient in 3M's Scotchgard until it was replaced about six years ago.

Source: Los Angeles Daily News

Donate Your Worn Crocs

2008-06-20T15:50:00.003-05:00

SolesUnited collects used Crocs and recycles them into new shoes to be donated to people in need throughout the world. Get Involved!

Diswashing Detergent Ban in 2010

2008-06-18T09:07:00.005-05:00

Beginning in select Washington State Counties this year, and statewide by 2010, detergent products, including major brands such as Electrasol and Cascade, will be removed from the shelves as part of a ban making it illegal to sell or distribute dishwashing detergents containing more than 0.5 percent phosphorus.

Why? Phosphorus in waste water is causing oxygen levels in rivers and lakes to be below state water quality standards. Phosphorus feeds algae blooms, and when algae die, their decay uses up oxygen, choking lakes and streams, suffocating salmon and other aquatic life. Phosphorus can leak into water bodies through industry and waste water treatment plants, storm-water runoff or even through faulty septic systems.

Low phosphorus dishwashing detergents that are safe for the environment include Ecover, and Seventh Generation. So, if you've already switched to these brands to keep your family safe, you're also saving the environment.

Source:
The Bellingham Herald

Toxic Teflon

2008-06-12T17:06:00.003-05:00

In 2006, under pressure from the U.S. EPA, DuPont and 7 other companies promised to phase out by 2015 a cancer-causing chemical called PFOA (Perfluorochemicals), used to make Teflon and also found in grease-resistant coatings for food packaging (like microwave popcorn). In its place, the chemical industry is pushing new, supposedly “green” food package coatings.

Perfluorochemicals are found in carpets and on clothes, on fast-food wrappers, and on the inner lining of pet food bags. You might know them as Teflon®, ScotchgardTM, Stainmaster® and Gore-Tex®. They pollute water, are persistent in the environment, and remain in the human body for years.

PFCs are associated with smaller birth weight and size in newborn babies, elevated cholesterol, abnormal thyroid hormone levels, liver inflammation, and weaker immune defense against disease--all good reasons to reduce your exposure.

What can you do?
Avoid the optional stain treatment on new carpets and furniture.

Find products that haven’t been pre-treated, and if the couch you own is treated, get a cover for it.

Choose clothing that doesn’t carry Teflon® or ScotchgardTM tags. This includes fabric labeled stain- or water-repellent. When possible, opt for untreated cotton and wool.

Avoid non-stick pans and kitchen utensils.

Cut back on greasy packaged and fast foods. These foods often come in treated wrappers.

Use real plates instead of paper.

Pop popcorn the old-fashioned way on the stovetop. Microwaveable popcorn bags are often coated with PFCs on the inside.

Choose personal care products without “PTFE” or “perfluoro” in the ingredients.

PVC plastic = Poison

2008-05-07T15:55:00.001-05:00

In light of the current concern over BPA in plastic baby bottles, sippy cups, etc., have you considered the other poison plastic in your environment? It's PVC, you know, that white plastic used in pipes. Well, it's also known as vinyl and is used in children's toys, bibs, plastic lunch boxes, shower curtains, car interiors, etc. etc.. And, guess what?! It's "one of the most hazardous consumer products ever created. PVC is dangerous to human health and the environment throughout its entire life cycle, at the factory, in our homes, and in the trash. Our bodies are contaminated with poisonous chemicals released during the PVC lifecycle, such as mercury, dioxins, and phthalates, which may pose irreversible life-long health threats. When produced or burned, PVC plastic releases dioxins, a group of the most potent synthetic chemicals ever tested, which can cause cancer and harm the immune and reproductive systems.

PVC is useless without the addition of a plethora of toxic additives, which can make the PVC product itself harmful to consumers. These chemicals can evaporate or leach out of PVC, posing risks to children and consumers. One of the most common toxic additives is DEHP, a phthalate that is a suspected carcinogen and reproductive toxicant readily found in numerous PVC products. Children can be exposed to phthalates by chewing on vinyl toys. While it is still legal for US retailers to sell PVC children’s and baby toys containing dangerous phthalates, the European Parliament voted in July, 2005 to permanently ban the use of certain toxic phthalates in toys. "

Another problem with PVC (vinyl) is during the manufacturing process lead is used as a stabilizer, which in effect means toys made of vinyl (PVC) contain lead, often high concentrations of lead. We all know lead paint can be a problem, but did you know the same problem occurs in toys and other products made of vinyl?

In November and December of 2007, Sears, Kmart, Wal-Mart and Target announced plans to begin phasing out products and packaging containing PVC, In February 2008, Toys 'R US began reducing PVC use and is moving towards a goal of offering PVC-free products. They also announced that by the end of 2008, juvenile products must be produced without the addition of phthalates. Sounds good, but keep in mind there are still a lot of toys on the market filled with toxic chemicals. You can search the Consumer Action Guide to Toxic Chemicals in Toys, and see for yourself. Here's a few examples: The Fisher Price Medical Kit (which my children received for Christmas) contains lead, PVC, mercury, and arsenic, and the Baby Tap-a-Tune Piano by Little Tikes, contains cadmium.

So, what can you do?

Air out new vinyl products. One EPA study found that vinyl shower curtains can cause elevated levels of dangerous air toxins, which can persist for more than a month. Do you know that smell from a new shower curtain, window shade, car interior, or anything else made of vinyl? Well, that smell is toxic and can last for more than a month. I suggest airing new vinyl products outside before using. Or better yet. Don't buy vinyl!

Consider removing any PVC pipe from within your house. There are many safe alternatives.

Purchase toys at reputable dealers like those mentioned above and avoid "dollar store" type toys.

Only buy baby bibs made of material other than vinyl, or look for bibs that are labeled PVC or Vinyl Free.

Get rid of, or test, children's costume jewelry purchased before March 1, 2008. Retailers were required to stop selling lead-tainted children's jewelry (notice the regulation if only for children's jewelry) on March 1. Suspect jewelry includes: dull looking metal, fake pearls with pearlescent coating, and plastic or vinyl cords or bracelets (that includes all my daughter's jewelry!)

Buy soft vinyl lunchboxes from companies that have committed to only sell lead-safe lunchboxes. These companies are: Ingear, Fashion Accessory Bazaar, Lisa Frank, Big Dogs, Accessory Network Group, Baby Universe, Buy Baby Buy, Romar Accessories, Silver Goose. Test or avoid soft vinyl lunchboxes altogether. Reusablebags.com sells a variety of lunch bags that are lead free.

Avoid vinyl diaper bags since many have been found to contain high levels of lead by the Center for Environmental Health.

Check the Center for Environmental Health's news section for up to date information.

2008-04-10T10:28:00.004-05:00

Beware Toxic Sunscreen
"A new study by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reveals that 97% of Americans are contaminated with a widely-used sunscreen ingredient called oxybenzone that has been linked to allergies, hormone disruption, and cell damage. A companion study published just one day earlier revealed that this chemical is linked to low birth weight in baby girls whose mothers are exposed during pregnancy. Oxybenzone is also a penetration enhancer, a chemical that helps other chemicals penetrate the skin."

So, what should you do? Avoid Oxybenzone of course. For children, Safe 'n Healthy sells TruKid brand sunscreen, which is oxybenzone free. For adults I recommend Aubrey Organics and Dr. Hauschka.

Has Clorox really gone green?

2008-03-07T14:14:00.005-06:00

With the advent of Clorox's newest line, Greenworks, I immediately was skeptical. Mainly because it's Clorox and my thought was, just because Clorox has jumped on the "natural" bandwagon, doesn't change the fact that the majority of their products are full of toxic chemicals, their factory of chemicals isn't safe for the environment, and they do test on animals. So, I haven't purchased or tested the products, and I don't intend to.

Reading through TreeHugger today confirmed my suspicions. Sadly, these suspicions weren't confirmed in the article posted on TreeHugger, they were confirmed within the comments section.

Here's a few:

"Don't go getting all cozy with Kathalon preservative (or any similar biocide approved for domestic applications by FDA) and assume because the product is "green" that you can work/clean house without skin and eye protection!

Check out this MSDS [http://www.fuelcare.co.uk/kathonfp15msds.pdf ] from the maker of Kathalon biocide products, Rohm & Haas, and you'll see clear statement of the potential fhazards:
Risk phrases are:
"Irritating to skin.
Risk of serious damage to eyes.
May cause sensitization by skin contact.
Harmful to aquatic organisms, may cause longterm adverse effects in the aquatic environment."

The risk phrases are associated with the isothiazol component ,which is the active ingredient common to the product line."

"They sent it to me as well and I told them no way - I cannot greenwash for a company that promotes using bleach all over one's house, around our kids and pets. It's insanity and you of all websites should not be giving them any credit for this greenwashing product. Jeffrey Hollender also said some other stuff about clorox, you should check it out: "“Green” is not something a company becomes because of a new product line, a marketing campaign, a decision to be carbon neutral or even the selection an enlightened new CEO. “Green” is about the inside, not the outside of a company. It’s about its DNA, its culture, and its very reason for being.""

So, beware greenwashing, just because a product says it's natural doesn't make it true. Greenworks products are supposedly 99% natural, but the other 1% are still petroleum based. Since I don't want petroleum in any of the products I end up inhaling, ingesting, or absorbed into my skin, I'll skill Clorox Greenworks.

I'll use a product that's truly Safe and Healthy instead.

Bisphenol A - Free Products on Amazon.com

2008-03-01T17:19:00.002-06:00

Here's a great link
BPA Free Products on Amazon.com

Triclosan

2008-02-19T15:06:00.002-06:00

There is little chance that you haven't come into contact with triclosan -- while washing your hands, brushing your teeth or applying deodorant or face cream. Now that cold season is in full effect, the "antibacterial" soaps in which triclosan is often found may seem like a great idea. But triclosan is an endocrine disruptor, and exposure to endocrine disruptors can lead to early puberty, serious reproductive issues and breast cancer.

Buy Safe 'n Healthy Products to make sure you're products are natural, or check the Cosmetic's Database for the current product you're using.

Clean food: Washing produce helps stave off health problems

2008-02-08T15:50:00.000-06:00

From The Sun Herald

Looking for a vegetable and fruit wash? Try Solay Simple Fruit/Veggie Wash

Environment solutions for your home

2008-02-08T15:44:00.000-06:00

From The Standard

Concerned? Use Natural or Organic Cleaning Products!

Pregnant women exposed to household pesticides may increase the risk of ...

2008-02-08T15:41:00.000-06:00

Pregnant women exposed to household pesticides may increase the risk of their children developing leukemia, according to a recent study conducted in France. These findings add more weight to the idea that pesticides play a role in childhood blood cancers and may shed light on the actual causes of the diseases.

From: Environmental Health News

Phthalate Assessed

2008-02-08T15:39:00.001-06:00

Phthalate Assessed
New report by safety panel reinforces conclusions from five years ago

Cosmetic Preservatives...

2008-02-08T15:37:00.001-06:00

Cosmetic preservatives makers offer alternatives as widely used parabens come under scrutiny

Concerned? Use Natural or Organic Body Care Products.

www.HEALTHYTOYS.org

2008-02-08T15:20:00.000-06:00

The Consumer Action Guide to Toxic Chemicals in Toys

Press Release about study on Phthalates...

2008-02-08T13:33:00.000-06:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 04, 2008

CONTACT:
Stacy Malkan
202-321-6963
smalkan@hcwh.org

CHEMICAL LINKED TO REPRODUCTIVE HARM IS GETTING INTO BABIES FROM SHAMPOO, LOTION AND POWDER, NEW STUDY SUGGESTS

Researchers recommend parents reduce product use

The use of powder, lotions and shampoo on infants markedly increased the levels of phthalates found in the babies’ urine, according to a new study by University of Washington researchers published today in the journal Pediatrics.

In animal studies, phthalates cause infertility, birth defects and other malformations of the male reproductive tract. Several human studies also indicate that phthalates may adversely affect male reproductive function at levels commonly found in people. Young infants and fetuses are most vulnerable to the potential adverse effects of phthalates.

According to the new study, lotions, powders and shampoos “may contribute significantly to phthalate body burden" in infants. “If parents want to decrease exposures, then we recommend limiting the amount of infant care products used, and not to apply lotions or powders unless indicated for a medical reason,” the researchers wrote.

Previous studies show that a high majority of fragranced personal care products contain phthalates. A 2002 study found phthalates in more than 70 percent of products tested, including shampoo, deodorant and perfume. The chemicals were not listed on labels. http://www.safecosmetics.org/docUploads/NotTooPretty_r51.pdf

The European Union bans some phthalates from cosmetics and toys, and California banned the chemicals from baby toys – but phthalates are legal to use in personal care products sold in the United States, and there are no requirements to label products for phthalate content.

“Parents have enough to worry about. They shouldn’t have to also worry about chemicals linked to infertility getting into their babies from baby products,” said Charlotte Brody, R.N., executive director of Commonweal, an environmental health research and education center. “Companies know how to make products without phthalates and that’s what they need to do.”
--------------
Here's the journal article this press release is about: Baby Care Products: Possible Sources of Infant Phthalate Exposure

Bisphenol A - Is it harmful?

2008-02-06T15:51:00.000-06:00

Bisphenol A - Also known as BPA.
What is it? Is it safe or hazardous?
Which baby and toddler products are BPA free?

As with many of the chemicals in products geared toward children, there is controversy over whether the chemical is indeed harmful. My philosophy is to be safe rather than sorry. Sure, I've lived a lifestyle unknowingly ingesting, inhaling, and covered in chemicals and I'm healthy, but with the onslaught of chemicals in our environment and lives, I feel a necessity to limit the chemicals around my family as much as possible. Why not? All it takes is a bit of research and learning on my part, then changing my purchasing habits, and I've reduced the chemicals in our lives. At least I've done as much as I can to keep my family safe and healthy.

So, here's what I've learned about Bisphenol A. The first thing I'll tell you is, the Plastics Industry considers BPA to be harmless, considering stories to the contrary to be myths and scare tactics. There's even a website. created to declare the safety of BPA. Yet, after reading both sides of this issue, I'm working to remove Bisphenol A from our life. Here's why...

According to National Geographic's Green Guide, "Depending on whom you talk to, BPA is either perfectly safe or a dangerous health risk. The plastics industry says it is harmless, but a growing number of scientists are concluding, from some animal tests, that exposure to BPA in the womb raises the risk of certain cancers, hampers fertility and could contribute to childhood behavioral problems such as hyperactivity.

According to its critics, BPA mimics naturally occurring estrogen, a hormone that is part of the endocrine system, the body's finely tuned messaging service. "These hormones control the development of the brain, the reproductive system and many other systems in the developing fetus," says Frederick vom Saal, Ph.D., a developmental biologist at the University of Missouri. Endocrine-disrupting chemicals can duplicate, block or exaggerate hormonal responses. "The most harm is to the unborn or newborn child," vom Saal says.

Plastic water and baby bottles, food and beverage can linings and dental sealants are the most commonly encountered uses of this chemical. Unfortunately, it doesn't stay put. BPA has been found to leach from bottles into babies' milk or formula; it migrates from can liners into foods and soda and from epoxy resin-lined vats into wine; and it is found in the mouths of people who've recently had their teeth sealed. Ninety-five percent of Americans were found to have the chemical in their urine in a 2004 biomonitoring study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Plastics manufacturers do not deny that BPA is found widely in canned foods and beverages and is routinely ingested. They part ways with vom Saal and other scientists over the human health risks. The levels that leach into food are well below the safety thresholds set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the plastics industry website, Bisphenol-A.org, says the chemical is completely safe unless you ingest 1,300 pounds of canned and bottled food daily. In other words, even a canned-food addict will likely ingest 500 times less BPA than the danger level set by the EPA and 100 times less than the standard set by the European Commission Scientific Committee on Food. And common sense tells us that if higher doses are safe, then lower doses must be too, right?

Not necessarily, says vom Saal, who notes that these safety levels are based on 1980s toxicity studies in rats. In those studies, conducted at relatively high doses, the only sign of toxicity was reduced body weight. However, when it comes to hormone disruption, different doses can activate or suppress different genes, vom Saal explains. "That's why early toxicity studies found that the high doses were safe. The studies didn't look at the low doses that are now proving to cause a myriad of harmful effects in animals, including chromosomal damage in female egg cells and an increase in embryonic death in mice. A follow-up to this is a study indicating a relationship of BPA blood levels to miscarriages in Japanese women," he says.

But not all scientists think BPA is capable of doing such harm to humans. Some deny that BPA disrupts hormones. A study funded by the Society of the Plastics Industry and published in the July 2002 Toxicological Sciences that explored the effects of low doses on three generations of rats found no effect on reproduction or development. "If you look at all the data together, you don't find a consistent pattern of effects that are characteristic of an estrogenic chemical," says Steven G. Hentges, Ph.D., executive director of the Polycarbonate Business Unit at the American Plastics Council. Others argue that rodent studies such as Hunt's are not relevant to humans. A study published in the October 2002 Chemical Research in Toxicology of human volunteers found that a human body neutralizes and excretes BPA far more rapidly than a rat's body does.

So far, regulatory agencies agree. "Based on all the evidence available at this time, the FDA sees no reason to change its long-held position that current [BPA] uses with food are safe," George Pauli, Ph.D., associate director for science and policy at the FDA's Office of Food Additive Safety, wrote in a November 28, 2005, letter.

Vom Saal counters that the studies showing BPA is safe are "profoundly flawed and in some cases exhibit outright fraud." Last year, he published a paper showing that 100 percent of the industry-funded studies, 11 in all, found no harmful effects from BPA, while 90 percent of government-funded low-dose studies, 104 in number, found harmful effects. "Among people who have actually read this literature there is no debate, just an illusion of controversy," he says.

Meanwhile, new studies continue to reveal the potential for harm. A January 2006 study indicates that BPA may enhance the risk of developing Type II diabetes. Angel Nadal, Ph.D., and his team at the University of Miguel Hernández de Elche in Alicante, Spain, found that BPA altered the function of mouse pancreatic cells, which produce insulin. Unhealthy diet, a lack of exercise and a genetic predisposition are the main factors in triggering diabetes, says Nadal. "However, our feeling is that these factors could be exacerbated by the presence of environmental pollutants such as bisphenol A."

Human studies might settle the controversy over BPA, but so far they have been too limited to prove much. One study linked women with ovarian disfunction to elevated blood levels of BPA, and another found that blood levels of BPA were three times higher in women who'd suffered recurrent miscarriages than in women with successful pregnancies. While intriguing, these studies were from a small sample group. A more definitive result could be gained from a large-scale study to track people's exposures, follow them for years and look for health effects. The National Toxicology Program is planning a future evaulation of BPA.

Some scientists urge that action be taken now, regardless. "Science is not in the business of demonstrating anything beyond a shadow of a doubt," says Ana Soto, M.D., a professor and researcher at Tufts University School of Medicine in Boston, who has found that BPA alters mammary-gland development in mice. "We cannot wait that long to discover whether this chemical is harming human reproduction and development." However, because government agencies remain unconcerned, it is unlikely that BPA will disappear from consumer products anytime soon."

So, which plastic bottles/cups are BPA free?
The following are free of BPA:
Bottles: Adiri | Born Free | MAM | Medela | Mother's Milkmate
Sippys: Born Free | Klean Kanteen | Sassy | SIGG | Thermos
Pacifiers: Playtex | Gerber/NUK | First Years
Pumps and Supplies: Medela | Mother's Milkmate

You should be most concerned if you are using bottles by Avent, Dr. Brown's, Evenflo, the First Years, Munchkin, Nuby, Playskool, or Second Nature, or sippy cups or breast pumps by many of these brands, since these brands are known to contain BPA. You are also likely, but less certain, to be using products containing Bisphenol-A if you are using bottles by Gerber, Playtex, or Tommee Tippee.

Bottles and cups aren't the only concern; if you consume canned soups, beans and soft drinks, organic or not, you also may be swallowing residues of bisphenol A that can leak out of the can linings into your food. Nearly all can liners contain BPA, says Geoff Cullen, director of government relations at the Can Manufacturers Institute. As a result baby formula has also been known to contain BPA. Read the Environmental Workering Group article here.

Other important links:
Bisphenol A Free
Smart Plastics Guide
Plastic Products at a Glance