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About Bisphenol A (BPA)

pile-of-cans

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a synthetic sex hormone used to make many common products, including food can linings, thermal cash register receipt paper, medical devices, and the rigid plastic, polycarbonate. Many scientific studies suggest that this hormone-disrupting chemical, which mimics estrogen, is linked to a wide range of health problems, including diabetes, heart disease, infertility, obesity and cancer.

Studies indicate that BPA is not persistent, so it does not remain in the body. Yet because of the widespread use of BPA in consumer products and food packaging, almost all Americans have BPA in their bodies due to continuous exposure.

BPA is an example of an endocrine disrupting chemical that may cause harm in low doses, especially when exposures occur in the womb, or to infants and small children whose bodies are developing rapidly.

Responding to the demand for safer products, leading manufacturers and sellers of baby bottles and sippy cups have eliminated BPA from their products. Even the American Chemistry Council publicly announced that American baby bottles and sippy cups are no longer made with BPA.  More recently, we’ve begun to see manufacturers and grocery stores get BPA out of canned food and receipt paper. Legislators across the US and internationally have enacted restrictions on BPA in baby bottles and other products.

For Media

Fact Sheets, Reports, Studies, Info on Alternatives and More

Organizations Working on BPA

As You Sow

Breast Cancer Fund

Center for Health, Environment & Justice (CHEJ)

Center for Progressive Reform

Clean and Healthy NY

Clean Water Action

Coalition for a Safe and Healthy Connecticut

TheEndocrineDisruptionExchange

Environmental Defence

Environmental Health Strategy Center

Environmental Working Group

Healthy Child Healthy World

Healthy Legacy Coalition

Huntington Breast Cancer Action Coalition

Investor Environmental Health Network (IEHN)

Moms Rising

NRDC

Safer Chemicals Healthy Families

Safer States

Silent Spring Institute

Washington Toxics Coalition