Spilling The Green Tea

Within this past week I have gotten several emails from various news organizations discussing the relation of plastics to ADHD and Autism as the toxic chemical used in plastics, BPA, has, yet again, made headlines:

Per the Daily Mail: Bisphenol A (BPA) is a chemical compound that has been dubbed a ‘gender-bending’ chemical because of its ties to hormonal and sexual problems. Now, researchers from Rowan University and Rutgers University in New Jersey have found that kids with autism and ADHD cannot expel BPA from their bodies as quickly as neurotypical kids. BPA has been linked to both conditions previously, though this is the first to find that kids with ADHD and autism have a harder time eliminating the chemical. 

Per Science Report: In this new study, researchers from Rowan University and Rutgers University in the US looked at three groups of children: 66 with autism, 46 with ADHD, and 37 neurotypical kids. In particular, they analyzed the process of glucuronidation, a chemical process the body uses to clear out toxins within the blood through urine. The research found that kids with ASD and ADHD couldn’t clear out BPA and another similar compound called Diethylhexyl Phthalate (DEHP) with as much efficiency as other kids, potentially leading to longer exposure to their toxic effects.

Per Medical News Today: About one in every 100 children around the world has autism and roughly 129 million children globally have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). As the prevalence of both autism and ADHD in children continues to increase every year, researchers have been searching for reasons behind this rise. Some of those potential reasons are environmental factors such as heavy metal residues in food and air pollution. Now, researchers from the Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine have found evidence suggesting children with autism and/or ADHD have a reduced ability to clear out the common plastic additive bisphenol A (BPA) from their bodies, resulting in increased exposure to the chemical.

BREAKING NEWS!!! But is it really breaking news? BPA has long been controversial and its link to autism and ADHD is really nothing new if you look at the history.

We have all read articles about the significant increase of children being diagnosed with ADHD or ASD (autism spectrum disorder). Now, some medical professionals and scientists say the increase is due to a better awareness of the disorders; hence, more people being diagnosed properly.

But what about this latest research showing that the main ingredient in plastic, BPA, may be linked to ADHD and ASD? Could a “gender-bending” chemical in products we use daily, be the culprit to the increase of ADHD and Autism?

Per Wikipedia, BPA is defined as: a chemical compound primarily used in the manufacturing of various plastics. It is a colorless solid which is soluble in most common organic solvents, but has very poor solubility in water. BPA is produced on an industrial scale by the condensation reaction of phenol and acetone. Global production in 2022 was estimated to be in the region of 10 million tons.

Some commonly used products that contain BPA are:

• plastic containers, mainly for food and beverage
• toiletries
• canned foods
• menstrual products
• household electronics
• eyeglass lenses
• thermal printer receipts
• sports equipment
• media such as CDs and DVDs
• alcohol beverages
• cosmetics
• dental filling sealants

I remember one day at work years ago, I was heating up my lunch in one of the typical plastic food containers. My supervisor came over and saw what was in the microwave and told me I should never heat food in a plastic container as chemicals from the plastic can seep into the food. She proceeded to tell me that her sister was a toxicologist and has warned everyone in the family that they need to forgo plastic and use glass containers when handling any food or beverage. I was a little skeptical at first because every store you go to sells plastic food containers, supposedly safe for heating and freezing food.

But it turns out she was right.

In 2012, the FDA banned the use of BPA in baby bottles used for children 12 months and younger; however, they did not decide to ban BPA from food and beverage packaging. In 2014, the FDA deemed small traces of BPA in the body are safe if they are less than 2.25 milligrams per pound of body weight. Today, the FDA maintains that BPA is a safe additive in food packaging.

So it is okay to consume a toxic chemical as long as it’s under a certain amount. Where did the FDA get their guideline of 2.25 milligrams? Was it a guess or they just pulled a rabbit out of their hat?

BPA exposure is linked to:

• infertility (affects the maturing of the oocyte)
• obesity (altering the normal pathway of endocrine)
• heart disease (cardiac remodeling and atherosclerosis)
• type 2 diabetes (insulin resistence)
• birth defects (BPA can pass through the placenta)
• cancer (can influence cell proliferation)

In 2008, the US National Toxicology Program stated: some concern for effects on the brain, behavior, and prostate gland in fetuses, infants, and children at current human exposures to BPA,”

In 2009, the Endocrine Society published a report revealing: there is strong evidence chemicals that interfere with the hormone system can cause serious health problems. It recommends people take a “precautionary approach” by reducing their exposures.

In 2010, BPA is removed from all Heinz products in Australia, UK and Ireland. But why not the US???

In 2011, BPA is banned from baby bottles by the European Union.

In 2012 Campbell’s Soups decided to ban BPA from their cans’ linings. BPA used in food containers is BANNED by France.

Bravo à la France!

Remember the old saying, “no smoke without a fire”? If the FDA still insists that BPA is safe at a minimal level then why do you have all these companies and countries banning the chemical?

Per the Packaging Digest, “In March, Rep. Edward Markey (D-MA) asked the FDA to ban the chemical’s use in formula containers, reusable food containers and in canned foods and beverages. The last two petitions are rejected, but the FDA accepts the petition on infant formula, and says it plans to collect comment from the public before making a final decision. The FDA says it will try to complete a scientific review within the next 90 days.”

With BPA already being an outlawed chemical due to its harmful impacts on the body, notably how it can pierce the placenta and be a cause for birth defects and other disorders (ADHD or Autism?) how could this still be used today?

Is it ignorance? Is it greed? Is it pure deceit? Are we just a bunch of lab rats? Has the world just gone mad?

Needless to say I have long switched to using glass containers for food storage. I don’t buy frozen dinners anymore because you heat them up in the microwave and guess what? Their trays are made of plastic. I don’t use makeup either (which has other harmful chemicals in it….more on this later). But sometimes being so careful can be exhausting. You feel like you are David and you are constantly up against Goliath.

In the end, it is beneficial for everyone to be educated on what is going on in the world, especially in the food and drink industry. No matter what we ingest, it has an affect on our bodies whether it is a positive or negative effect. It is up to you, and only you, to decide on your quality of life.