Bisphenol A (BPA) is nearly ubiquitous among common household products. It is used in baby bottles, water bottles, medical and dental devices, lenses, food storage containers, household electronics, compact discs and DVDs. Epoxy resins containing BPA are used to coat the inside of food and beverage cans, as well as metal water bottles not made from stainless steel.

The chemical, which is used primarily in the production of polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins, made headlines in December 2006 when a draft report from the National Toxicology Program’s Center for the Evaluation of Risks to Human Reproduction (CERHR)was released as part of NTP-CERHR’s initial review and evaluation of BPA for the “potential for adverse effects on reproduction or development resulting from human exposures to substances in the environment”. The draft report cited widespread human exposure to BPA from use and occurrence in the environment as one of the primary reasons for researching the chemical.

Following two expert panel meetings in March and August 2007, NTP-CERHR provided description and conclusions of the BPA evaluation and recommendations for future studies. Through its evaluation process, the NTP concluded there is “some concern” about effects of BPA on the brain, behavior, and prostate gland of fetuses, infants, and children at current human exposure levels. In the following months, evidence about the adverse health effects of BPA have continued to mount as scientists outside NTP-CERHR conducted new studies and reviewed hundreds of previous studies linking BPA exposure to a wide array of illness and disease, including breast cancer, heart disease, obesity, diabetes, liver abnormalities, and prostate cancer.

In April 2008, Canada announced its intent to ban the import, sale, and advertisement of baby bottles containing BPA. A number of high profile manufacturers and retailers, including Wal-Mart, Nalgene, and Toys-R-Us, followed suit. Now U.S. legislators are trying to ban plastics containing BPA on both the state and national level. While many companies continue to manufacture products from types of plastic that have been shown to leach BPA, others are responding quickly to both consumer and government pressure by releasing BPA-free products onto the market. We are thrilled to see more alternatives to BPA on the market among various product types, and as always, remain BPA-free throughout our product line…that’s a commitment we made to our customers in 2004 when Klean Kanteen first hit the streets as the original alternative to plastic water bottles.

At Klean Kanteen, we believe accurate information is an important tool when faced with the myriad, sometimes complex, personal consumer choices of today. Below are some helpful hints and information resources about BPA.

How to Reduce Your Exposure to BPA:

• Choose Klean Kanteen for your personal beverage bottle and accept no impostors; made from food-grade stainless steel, Klean Kanteens are the original, high-quality, responsibly-made, BPA-free, stainless steel bottle
• Avoid canned food and drinks whenever possible and eat fresh fruits and vegetables
• Avoid plastic containers with the code 7 on the bottom, unless the packaging indicates the plastic is BPA-free
• Don't microwave food in plastic containers
• Don't put plastic containers in the dishwasher or use harsh detergents to clean them
• Only use polyethylene or polypropylene plastics, which have the recycling code #1, #2 (HDPE), #4 (LDPE), and #5 (PP). Recycling code #7 may mean the product contains BPA, though alternative products made from plants such as corn also carry the recycling code #7.

Learn More About BPA:

• What is Bisphenol A?
• National Toxicity Program Q&A About Bisphenol A
• NTP-CERHR Monograph on the Potential Human Reproductive and Developmental Effects of Bisphenol A (September 2008)
• Hinterthuer, Adam (2008, August) Just how harmful are Bisphenol-A plastics? Scientific American
• Layton, Lindsey (2008, Sept. 4) Chemical in plastic is connected to health problems in monkeys.
  The Washington Post, p. A2
• Lite, Jordan (2008, Sept. 16) BPA Study: Plastic chemical is unhealthy for children and other living things. Scientific American
• Szabo, Liz (2008, Oct. 24) Congress questions FDA objectivity on BPA plastic safety. USA Today
• Zwillich, Todd (2008, Sept. 16) FDA criticized over plastic chemical. WebMD Health News