A recent study by the Washington Toxics Coalition found Toxins

Hope you got all your Christmas shopping done. But there’s something serious I want to talk to you about today. It’s more important than ever because of all the receipts you’re probably collecting this time of year.

A recent study by the Washington Toxics Coalition found that half of the thermal paper receipts tested had large quantities of unbound BPA, and 95 percent of the dollar bills tested positive for BPA, too.1

BPA mimics estrogen, and when extra estrogen gets in your blood, it will make you fat, slow and tired. It can even wipe out your sex life. If it stays in your blood long-term, it can trigger cancer or other diseases and health problems like:

Heart disease
Obesity
Type 2 diabetes
Liver damage
Brain damage
Inflammation
Reproductive cancers and abnormalities
The FDA and corporations that use BPA in plastics both say the amount you are exposed to is safe.

But a study for Environmental Health Perspectives found that male offspring exposed to BPA in the womb had “reduced glucose tolerance, increased insulin resistance, and altered blood parameters.” In other words, they’re well on their way to diabetes before they’re even born.2

The study also revealed that hospitalized premature babies had levels of BPA in their urine 10 times higher than the general population.3

Babies are affected by BPA because it acts as an endocrine disrupter, interfering with hormones and potentially damaging development.

And if you don’t think BPA affects babies when they’re grown, look at this study funded by the U.S. National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health. It found that increased BPA levels mean reduced semen quality in men.4

In fact the government of Canada is so alarmed by BPA they declared it toxic.5

The good news is that you can reduce your exposure to BPA by doing a few simple things:

• Choose cloudy-colored plastics instead of clear bottles. They are usually BPA-free. So are bottles used to pump and store expressed breast milk with the brand name Medela.

• Reduce your consumption of canned foods and soda – especially if you’re pregnant. Many tin and aluminum cans have an epoxy liner made with BPA, which leaches into the food or drink. Refrain from canned goods except those – like Eden Foods and Heinz – that are transitioning to BPA-free lining alternatives.6

• Do not heat plastic containers in microwaves. Many claim to be microwave-safe, but no definitive testing has been done to determine whether a wide variety of these products – from disposable containers to Tupperware – actually leach chemicals into food. Instead, use ceramic, glass and other microwaveable dishware.

• If you’re pregnant, delay dental work. Wait until after delivery to get your teeth fixed. Why? Because most dentists use sealants and tooth repair resins that contain substances that degrade into BPA. The amount of exposure is extremely low, but it is better to err on the side of caution.

• Put your receipts in a safe place. Don’t keep receipts in your wallet near your bills and definitely don’t put them where babies or pets can grab them and chew on them.

To Your Good Health,
Al Sears, MD