93% of people ages 6 and up have detectable levels of BPA in their urine … I don't.

Habits to decrease your exposure to BPA and other Bisphenols

93% of people ages 6 and up have detectable levels of BPA in their urine … how am I in the remaining 7%?

Twice in the last three years, I’ve tested my BPA and BPS levels and both times these have come out as undetected.

Before I get into the daily habits I’ve incorporated into my life to reduce my exposure to BPA, and other Bisphenols, it’s important to understand how BPA works in our body and the harm these chemicals can cause.

1. How BPA works in our body

Once BPA is in your body, your body can actually detoxify from it, remove it from your body relatively quickly.

The half-life of bisphenol A (BPA) in the human body is somewhere between 5 hours and 4-5 days. In other Words: 10 hours- 9 days is how long BPA lives in your body. Compared to other chemicals, this is rather quick, and is key to understanding your risk and approach when decreasing your body’s exposure to BPA ( for comparisons, PFAS chemicals can stay in your body upwards of 40 to 50 years!)

Factors that may influence how long BPA stays in the body include:

• Amount of exposure: Higher levels of BPA exposure will result in higher concentrations in the body and a longer half-life.

• Route of exposure: BPA absorbed through the skin may stay in the body longer than BPA ingested through food.

• Individual metabolism: Some people may metabolize BPA more quickly than others.

All of this, however, it’s also dependent on whether or not you are continuously being exposed to BPA or if it is a one time exposure.

For the majority of Americans ( 93%), BPA exposure is somewhat continuous, which means their body is never able to fully get rid of BPA alltogether. While a one time exposure can actually affect your health, continuous exposure to BPA affects our health in a much more serious way. Even tiny, and continuous levels of BPA are capable of causing endocrine disruption in a human body.

2. Health effects

Bisphenols are a class of chemicals used in a wide range of consumer products, such as food packaging, fabrics, toys, clothing and cookware.

Because it is an endocrine disruptor, bisphenol-A may lead to hormone imbalance, infertility, early puberty, increased risk of reproductive cancers, low sperm count and other hormone-related problems.

Other research has shown a link between BPA and asthma, obesity and breast cancer.

In plastics, BPA is usually found in polycarbonate plastic, which is clear hard plastic.

In can linings BPA is used in the resin that is found in the interior lining of cans

In clothing BPA is often found in polyester spandex blends.

Many companies have phased out BPA’s use in food packaging and the chemical is not allowed in the US in baby items, But often companies use a similar chemical, BPS, instead.

BPS, the alternative largely used in place of BPA, has studies showing it is just as toxic. It’s linked to hormone disruption, cognitive damage, decreased sperm count, breast cancer and other health issues… so buying products labeled as “ BPA free” is NOT a better option.

I dont live in a bubble - so there are certainly moments when I am exposed to BPA. However, because I know where BPA and other Bisphenols are found I know how to minimize my exposure. Furthermore, minimizing my exposure to these chemicals is not a huge effort. I promise! Incorporating small changes into your daily habits pretty much does the trick . Here is what I personally do

1. Do not eat canned food. Maybe once a month I will cook a recipe with coconut milk and sometimes that coconut milk comes from a can. I make sure i purchase “ BPA free “ cans in those cases ( but remember substitute chemicals can be just as bad) and this becomes an acceptable exposure for myself because I know that: - I’m not exposing myself to BPA continuously, - it is diluted in a larger recipe, - And my body will be able to detoxify from it quickly because I’m not continuously exposed to other sources of BPA.

2. Limit touching Thermal store receipts. These are still a daily exposure route for many people. A recent study found that After as little as 10 seconds of holding onto a thermal store receipt exposure levels above the safe harbor level which requires a clear and reasonable warning to consumers occurs. Generally speaking, I avoid touching thermal receipts- i ask for them to be emailed or ask for them to be thrown out. If I do have to touch them briefly, i often will grab them with another piece of paper or minimize as much as possible and wash my hands with soap and water after. I never use hand sanitizer because another study has found that using hand sanitizer after holding a store receipt with BPA can actually significantly increase your absorption rate. Store workers who must handle receipts should wear gloves

3. Avoid Plastic Food Containers: Polycarbonate plastics, a common type of hard plastic used for some food storage containers, water bottles, and tableware, can release BPA. I simply refuse to use plastic storage for food storage. Period. We only have glass and stainless steel so its a non Issue.

4. Buy foods that comes in glass containers: This goes hand in hand with avoiding canned foods and avoiding plastic containers. When shopping in the supermarket I seek out fresh foods or those that come in glass (examples: cooked beans, chickpeas, ketchup, tomato sauce etc)

5. No plastic plates and cups. Some plates and cups are still made with polycarbonate plastic and contain BPA or ( in cases where it is labeled as BPA free , BPS) . We do not have plastic plates or cups in our homes. For our kids, we use stainless steel if we’re concerned of breakage, otherwise older kids use glass water cups and porcelain plates

6. Pay Attention and minimize Dust: BPA can be present in indoor air and dust, which can lead to exposure through inhalation and skin contact… the source is usually construction materials. To counteract this ( and so many chemicals that are found in dust, including phthalates, flame, retardance, PFAS and more) we are really good about not cluttering our home, which makes Cleaning dust really easy, we vacuum a couple of times a week, and have our air filters running indoors.

7. Avoid dental sealants. I don’t have dental sealants. There is a place for dental sealants if your teeth do not have a strong enamel ( some people are born with a enamel deficiency.) but if you can avoid it, you should because overtime it can release BPA.

8. Avoid canned drinks: Soft drinks that come in cans are lined with BPA. Beer and other canned drinks are also potential sources. I pretty much only drink water as a personal choice so this eliminates this exposure for me and for our household

9. No recycled paper tp : Toilet paper that is made from recycled paper is another source of BPA. We use bamboo based toilet paper at home instead

10. No Plastic Wrap: plastic wrap can contain bisphenol-A and other plastic chemicals. I dont buy plastic wrap at home, instead I Use ‘If you Care’ parchment paper, glass storage containers, cast iron or stainless steel pans or beeswax paper

11. Avoid polyester / spandex blended clothing. In general I avoid polyester/ spandex blends which are often found in socks, socks, and workout or performance clothes

Truthfully, like I said, I definitely get some exposure to BPA because I believe it is extremely hard to live in a BPA free bubble. However, because I am able to effectively minimize this exposure both times that I have tested for this chemical my levels have come out as undetected.

These are habits that I’ve incorporated in my life these past 15 years. My kids have been born and are growing up in a household, where all these habits are common, so at least the majority of them will be like second nature to them.

Is there something you can do? Let me know in the comments if you have any questions even incorporating some of these habits will go along way to decrease your exposure.