Babies and fetuses are at risk of being affected by the hazardous effects of BPA or bisphenol-A, a chemical used in manufacturing hardened plastics. Products that use this may be in the form of cups, bottles, jugs, containers and other forms of plastic storage. Therefore, anyone who is apprehensive about the potential hazard of plastic use should take note of this, particularly those who are pregnant or have babies in the household.
Levels of BPA
On the other hand, just how much of BPA is enough to really cause damage to babies and fetuses? Studies have shown that BPA acts like the female hormone estrogen in animals. And because we are still considered animals, we may be in danger when exposed to BPA.
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But estrogen is active in the body at concentrations calculated in ppt or parts per trillion. Do you even know what this measurement means? Imagine a single drop of water in a train that is 6 miles long. That’s how small 1 part per trillion is. And when the FDA and other federal regulating agencies tested plastic storage with BPA, the results did not even come close near the parts per trillion range.
The Goodness of Plastics
Disseminating information about the hazardous effects of BPA could just be a marketing ploy to help ban plastic entirely so we can use more organic materials for storage. But you have to understand that plastics used for storage like water tanks and pallets, do more good than harm. They pose as alternatives to metals which corrode and leach lead to the food and liquid they contain, they serve as substitute to wooden crates which are not as sturdy as plastic pallets and are slow to decompose, leading to more garbage problems, and they help prevent bird flu and other diseases. Wooden pallets, when reused to transport perishable goods, can be a breeding ground for viruses. Plastics are convenient, lightweight, easy to use and easy to sanitize. They are also widely accepted all around the world.
More importantly, the use of plastics helps lower the demand for timber and other wooden products. When demand for wood is low, then it helps preserve our forests or what’s left of it. So perhaps, instead of tainting the credibility of all kinds of plastic, they can instead disseminate correct information and provide application for future recycling of these materials. Overall, plastic storage is still a lifesaver more than a life destroyer. You can always opt to use other kinds of plastics if BPA is really a no-no for you. And you can always recycle them for other uses. After all, they are durable, and can withstand external conditions for a long, long time.
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