Recent headlines about bisphenol A (BPA) are spurring concerned conversations among moms and dads, making many stop and think about products a lot of us use every day. But before you start throwing out heaps of household items, let's step back a little and take a look at what all the hubbub's about.

According to the recent report by the National Toxicology Program (NTP) that's stirring up the debate, we may breathe in dust and air containing BPA or absorb the chemical through our skin when we swim or bathe. But almost all (99%) of our exposure to BPA is through our diet — from the chemical potentially leaching into what we eat and drink.

That's because BPA is used in:

• polycarbonate plastics (usually clear, hard items like baby and water bottles, disposable tableware, CD packaging, certain medical devices, and some safety equipment; these plastics can also be molded with other materials to make things like household items and parts for cars and mobile phones)
• epoxy resins (used in the tops of bottles, in water pipes, and inside many food cans and infant formula cans)
• certain dental sealants (which only causes short-term exposure)

According to the first federal U.S. report questioning the safety of the widely used chemical, "the possibility that [BPA] may alter human development cannot be dismissed" — and, based mainly on findings in BPA-exposed laboratory animals (not studies involving humans), "there is some concern" that BPA at "current human exposures" could cause effects in fetuses, babies, and children like:

• behavioral and brain problems
• early puberty in girls
• changes in the prostate and mammary glands

However, the report by the NTP says there's "negligible concern" that BPA exposure in moms-to-be can cause fetal or newborn deaths, birth defects, low birth weight, or growth problems in babies.

BPA exposure is widespread in kids and adults alike — a 2003-2004 report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found BPA in almost 95% of more than 2,500 people (ages 6 and up). The chemical is also often present in breast milk and pregnant women's blood.

Infants and kids have the highest daily intake of BPA and "many widely detected environmental chemicals," says the report. That's because they "eat, drink, and breathe more than adults on a pound per pound basis." Plus, children (especially babies and toddlers) spend more time on the floor (crawling and playing) and often mouth on plastics and inadvertently ingest dirt that may contain many common chemicals.

But it's important to note that the federal report is just a draft — it's scheduled to be further reviewed by more experts in June and does not represent a federal policy or statement.

Although the jury's still out about BPA, some major developments have come on the heels of this latest report:

• Canada became the first country to officially ban the chemical from baby bottles.
• New York Sen. Charles E. Schumer plans to file a bill to ban BPA in baby bottles and water bottles.
• Some major companies (like water bottle maker Nalgene, Wal-Mart, Toys 'R' Us, and Playtex) have said they will no longer make or sell BPA-containing products.

What This Means to You

The report is highly controversial, for one, because it contradicts the current position of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Plus, the report's recommendations are based on data from studies done in animals, not in people. Animals metabolize BPA differently than humans and there's a lot of question about taking animal data and equating it with human risk.

So it's too soon to say whether products containing BPA are harmful to children at the levels to which most kids are exposed.

Until we have clear answers about what the chemical does and doesn't do, here are some ways to reduce exposure to BPA in your home:

• For plastic containers, bottles, and sippy cups:
  • Look at the bottom for the recycling code (the number inside the triangle). Those with the numbers 7 are made of polycarbonate (or say PC) and may contain BPA.
  • Don't microwave them — increased heat can cause the chemical to "migrate into" food and drinks.
  • Find out if they're dishwasher safe (and, if so, whether they should washed on the top rack or bottom).
• Call the manufacturer of your baby's infant formula to find out if they use epoxy resin inside their cans.
• Buy frozen or fresh fruits and vegetables if you're concerned about the lining inside canned foods.
• Try to use glass and/or stainless steel instead of plastic food containers, bottles, and plastic kids' cups. You can opt for tempered glass, which won't break as easily.
• Buy products that say they're "BPA-free."

If you have questions or concerns about any products you're using (or have used) at home, talk to your doctor for advice and recommendations on how to get more info.

Reviewed by: Steven Dowshen, MD
Date reviewed: April 2008

Source: "NTP Draft Brief on Bisphenol-A," National Toxicology Program (part of the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services' National Institutes of Health), April 14, 2008.