No Escape

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a chemical that is found in a number of hard, transparent plastics, including water bottles and baby bottles, as well as the lining of food cans. Phthalates are utilized in the manufacturing of soft, flexible plastics such as PVC (“vinyl”) products and food packaging. Additionally, they are utilized to create scents for cosmetics and skin care goods. The majority of cans are lined with plastic, and for decades, this plastic was frequently laced with a toxin called BPA. According to the US Food and Drug Administration, BPA migrates from linings into foods during processing and storage. And, despite the FDA’s refusal to mandate food manufacturers to use safer linings, there is some good news: BPA is nearly completely eliminated from food cans. BPA (bisphenol A) stands out among the thousands of synthetic chemicals to which we are exposed on a daily basis. While the majority of chemicals have lengthy tongue twisters for names that the majority of us are unfamiliar with, many of us are familiar with BPA. And, while little is known about the health risks associated with the majority of those tongue twisters, BPA has been the subject of hundreds of scientific research over the last few decades. According to professional scientists, BPA is a toxin that interferes with the natural functioning of the hormones in our bodies. According to these same scientists, exposure to BPA has been related to an alarming list of ailments, including obesity, diabetes, fertility issues, early menopause, low sperm count, prostate cancer, and breast cancer-associated alterations. Numerous businesses have shifted away from polystyrene foam cups in favor of “eco-friendly” paper cups, citing environmental concerns. However, are these paper coffee cups — the ones you discard after your final sip of caffeinated bliss – truly that much better for public health and the environment? The majority of paper coffee cups are coated with a plastic resin to provide durability when filled with liquid. However, this coating renders the cup non-recyclable. To fully recycle a paper coffee cup lined with plastic, the paper and plastic must be separated and sorted into groups of identical materials. While it is possible to recycle plastic-lined paper cups, the procedure is prohibitively expensive for widespread adoption. As a result, recycling of plastic-lined coffee cups is almost non-existent in the United States. Additionally, because the majority of us believe paper coffee cups are recyclable, we place them in curbside recycling bins among other recyclable materials – such as glass and aluminum – at recycling facilities. Now that we are aware that we are consuming plastic with nearly every breath, we can see how this is damaging not only the environment, but also our bodies. Can we truly return to a plastic-free existence now that everything incorporates plastic? Yes, we were once able to live without it, but it appears as though eliminating plastic or substituting a better option is nearly impossible economically at the moment. While being a cautious consumer reduces health hazards associated with BPA and phthalates, ingesting microplastics appears almost inevitable even with measures taken.