Have you ever wondered how plastics have the ability
to maintain durability and strength over such a long period of time? The answer
is BPA, the key monomer
used in the production of polycarbonate (PC) plastics and epoxy resins, found
in the lining of canned foods. Polycarbonate plastics are often used in containers
that store food and beverages, such as water bottles (1).
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| (9) |
BPA
is used in a broad variety of consumer products such as sports equipment and
medical devices(2).Bispheonl A, commonly referred to as BPA, is a carbon based synthetic compound that belongs to the group
of diphenylmethane derivatives and bisphenols(3).Its
physical form is generally found in the appearance of crystals with a melting
point of 160˚C (4). Chemists discovered BPA in 1891 (2),
but it wasn’t until 1957 that BPA began to be used in certain plastics for commercial
use (5&6).
If it was discovered decades ago, why did it
take so long to hit the consumer market? The reason for this is because BPA was
found to be an endocrine (or hormone) disrupting chemical. An endocrine
disruptor is a substance which interferes with the production, secretion,
transport, function and elimination of natural hormones (7).BPA in
particular has the ability to mimic the hormone estrogen. Some major health concerns that can result from this include heart disease
and a loss of connection between brain cells in primates, leading to potential
problems with memory, learning and depression (7). This may result
from BPA seeping into food and beverages from the containers that are made with
BPA (5).
Despite these negative impacts it is still being
produced because it’s cheap, easy and efficient. The primary ingredients
required are acetone and phenol generating an 80-95% yield of product (8).
The FDA has also announced that BPA is
safe at very low levels that occur in some foods (5).
With such efficiency and FDA support, it is unlikely
that BPA will disappear entirely. Using glass and porcelain containers instead of plastic containers for
foods and liquids is a way of reducing BPA exposure. Limiting the number of
canned goods consumed and switching to fresh produce is another easy
alternative(5)
References:
— (1) "BISPHENOL A
ALTERNATIVES IN THERMAL PAPER." United States Environmental
Protection Agency (2014): 332-56. Web. 21 Nov. 2014. <http://www.epa.gov/dfe/pubs/projects/bpa/bpa-report-complete.pdf>
— (2) BPA-Free Tips and
Alternatives for Parents (n.d.). In baumhedlundlaw. Retrieved
November 24, 2014, from http://www.baumhedlundlaw.com/bpa/bpa_safe.php
— (3) Bisphenol A. (2014,
November 25). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 07:13,
November 23, 2014, fromhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bisphenol_A&oldid=635410677
— (4) Haynes, W. (2012). 2,2-Bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-propane. In D. R. Lide
& T. J. Bruno (Eds.), CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics (93rd
ed., pp. 3-56-3-57).
— (5) Zeratsky, Katherine. "What is
BPA, and what are the concerns about BPA?." mayoclinic. N.p.,
May 2013. Web. 21 Nov. 2014. <http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-living/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/expert-answers/bpa/faq-20058331>
— (6) Bisphenol A (BPA):
Use in Food Contact Application (2010, January). In FDA. Retrieved
November 23, 2014, from http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/PublicHealthFocus/ucm064437.htm#understanding
— (7) Nordqvist, C. (2014,
September 26). What is BPA (bisphenol A)? Is BPA harmful?. In Medical
News Today. Retrieved November 24, 2014, from http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/221205.php
— (8) Bisphenol A (n.d.).
In PubChem. Retrieved November 24, 2014, from http://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Bisphenol_A#section=Top
(9)Products containing BPA. Picture
taken by Alyssa Bawa. November 26, 2014.
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