Four years ago, my daughter Rachel started school to become an esthetician. She brought home info on the new studies showing just how toxic parabans were and their link to breast cancer. I immediately went through my beauty products and shampoos and conditioners. Almost all of them had parabans and they were all from the health food store! I went to work researching toxicity in cosmetics, ending up switching products and in time developed my own skin cleanser. During that next year almost every product line in the health food store reformulated their products to remove this cheap and toxic preservative.
One of the tools I used for my research was the Environmental Working Groups’ website, Skin Deep. It has the white papers (toxicity reports) on almost every product I was using.
Skin Deep is a safety guide to cosmetics and personal care products brought to you by researchers at the Environmental Working Group.
Skin Deep pairs ingredients in more than 42,000 products against 50 definitive toxicity and regulatory databases, making it the largest integrated data resource of its kind. Why did a small nonprofit take on such a big project? Because the FDA doesn’t require companies to test their own products for safety.
Get started here to learn what’s in your personal care products:
By Lisa Frack
May 28, 2009
EWG is working hard to pass laws that limit or ban the dangerous chemical bisphenol-A (BPA).
But until they pass, we think you should have the latest info on sources of exposure and our tips to avoid them on your own. Because before the personal becomes political it’s, well, still personal.
Who’s affected by BPA??
- The developing fetus and baby are the most vulnerable to BPA’s toxic effects. Unfortunately they also have the most intense BPA exposure of any age group.
Many parents who have replaced their polycarbonate baby bottles are unaware that BPA contaminates liquid baby formula sold in metal cans. Since formula can make up 100% of a baby’s diet over her first 6 months of life, parents should choose BPA-free types. - Adults ingest much less BPA than babies. But a recent study linking BPA exposures in adults to heart disease and diabetes raises concerns about the safety of current exposures.
Adult exposure comes primarily from canned foods and polycarbonate food containers, but BPA-containing medical devices could also be a source. Pregnant women and older children should avoid BPA. Eat a varied diet, avoid canned foods, and don’t use polycarbonate plastics for warm food or drinks.
How are we exposed??
EWG Senior Scientist Olga Naidenko wrote a recent post here on Enviroblog summarizing all the ways we can be exposed to BPA.
In short, BPA has countless uses, several of which have been highlighted as an exposure risk. BPA is a component of non-metal dental fillings, it is in thermal paper for many receipts, and it is increasingly used in medical devices. There is little research about the magnitude of exposures from these products.
EWG’s Tips for avoiding BPA
Although completely eliminating exposure to bisphenol A (BPA) may not be possible, there are steps you can take to reduce your family’s exposure to this chemical by avoiding common sources and limiting exposure for the highest risk groups.
- BPA in formula and baby bottles: Check our BabySafe guide to bottles and formula and a previous Enviroblog post specifically about choosing and using infant formula safely.
- BPA in canned foods: Almost all canned foods sold in the United States have a BPA-based epoxy liner that leaches BPA into the food. EWG tested 97 canned foods and found detectable levels of BPA in more than half of the foods. The highest concentrations were in canned meats, pasta and soups. Only 1 manufacturer claims to use no BPA. Eden Foods uses an alternative technology for canned beans but not for its tomato-based products. Pregnant women and children should limit their consumption of canned foods to avoid BPA. Rinsing canned fruit or vegetables may reduce the amount of BPA you ingest.
- BPA in water and food containers: Less BPA leaches from plastic water bottles and food containers than from cans into canned foods and baby formula. Nevertheless it is good to take simple precautions to reduce your exposure.
Polycarbonate plastics are rigid, transparent and used for food storage containers and water bottles, among other things. Trace amounts of BPA can migrate from these containers, particularly if used for hot food or liquids. Soft or cloudy-colored plastic does not contain BPA.
When possible, avoid polycarbonate, especially for children’s food and drinks. This plastic might be marked with the recycling code #7 or the letters "PC". Plastics with the recycling labels #1, #2 and #4 on the bottom are better choices because they do not contain BPA. Avoid putting any plastic containers in microwaves. Wash plastics on the top shelf of your dishwasher or by hand.
Some metal water bottles lined with an epoxy-based enamel coating could leach BPA. Look for stainless steel bottles that do not have a liner. Avoid using old and scratched plastic bottles.
And keep your eyes on Enviroblog and your inbox for upcoming e-advocacy on BPA legislation. We plan to beat this chemical at home and in the halls of Congress.
Filed under: Environmental Issues
This is from the Environmental Working Groups’ Eviroblog
We caught Coca-Cola and Del Monte plotting to deceive you about the dangers of BPA.
Last week food and chemical lobbyists met in Washington, DC to save BPA – they’re desperate to block state and federal efforts to regulate their $6 billion industry.
We were shocked when we read 
internal meeting minutes that revealed an unethical strategy to keep your family eating and drinking from BPA-laden containers. To get the full story, see our Enviroblog.
QUESTION: Which of these tactics did BPA industry lobbyists concoct?
- Employing fear tactics like threatening consumers with limited access to affordable baby food.
- Using a "pregnant young mother who would be willing to speak around the country about the benefits of BPA" as their ‘holy grail’ spokesperson.
- Focusing fear tactics on historically exploited populations including "Hispanic and African Amercians and the poor."
- "Befriending people that are able to manipulate the legislative process."
- All of the above.
ANSWER: (E) All of the above. Ready to fight back? So are we.
Call now to demand no BPA
Coca-Cola: 1-800-GET-COKE, ext. 2
Del Monte: 1-800-543-3090
Sample script:
"Hello, My name is ______________. I’m shocked and disappointed in your unethical approach to business when it comes to BPA – placing profits ahead of my family’s health and using fear tactics to placate consumers about a clearly dangerous chemical. BPA needs to go – NOW. Thank you."
After you call. . .
- Tell us about it. Send EWG an email describing the conversation.
- Get your friends to call. Use our tell-a-friend to ask your friends to call today.
- Donate to EWG so we can keep these big corporations from profiting off your family’s health.
Thank you for calling. Now the BPA industry lobbyists know that yet another consumer will not stand for their unethical tactics.
