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BPA free plastic products were supposed to be safer than those containing the infamous ingredient. However, researchers accidentally discovered that BPA alternatives were still dangerous, leading to chromosomal abnormalities in the exposed mice. ( Hans Braxmeier | pixabay )
BPA-free plastic would have been created to help protect the health of consumers, but new research has revealed that it may not be safer than the usual plastic products.
Previous studies have confirmed that the danger still persists in BPA-free plastics, but BPA-free plastics may encourage consumers to think twice about plastic products in general, without BPA.
Plastic without BPA: always dangerous
Twenty years ago, researchers accidentally discovered that bisphenol A or BPA, an ingredient in plastics manufacturing, was harmful to health. BPA escaped from plastic cages where female mice lived, resulting in a sudden spike of eggs with chromosomal abnormalities.
The same team, much like the first discovery, published another report in the Current Biology The journal focuses on alternative ingredients that have replaced BPA in plastics. Apparently, these ingredients are still as dangerous as BPA.
"This article reports a strange déjà vu experience in our lab," said Patricia Hunt of Washington State University.
The team again noted changes in the data for their mice due to contamination with damaged cages. Hunt and colleagues determined that the mice were exposed to BPA replacements, which caused problems in the production of eggs and spermatozoa.
Further analysis showed that BPA substitutes, including the common alternative called BPS, produced chromosomal abnormalities very similar to those observed in BPA studies conducted several years earlier.
The results suggest that BPA-free plastic products, including water bottles and other types of containers, may not be safer than their BPA counterparts.
How to protect yourself from the dangers of plastic health
The prevalence of plastic products in everyday life could mean that people will not be able to escape exposure, even though agencies such as the FDA have introduced new rules or restrictions against plastics. In addition, BPA persists in the environment and it may take decades before the presence of similar chemicals dissipates.
For protection against harmful chemicals found in plastic products, Hunt recommended people to "think differently about plastics". Instead of considering plastic products as long-lasting products, they should be considered as disposables.
Plastics should not be placed in dishwashers or microwaves as this could damage them and cause leakage of BPA and its alternatives. Plastic products that look old or have undergone many scratches should be discarded. Families should also try to switch from plastic containers to glass or steel ones.
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