Water Bottles and Bisphenol A – Can BPA Cause Infertility?

You may have heard or read about it in The Wall Street Journal – Canada is considering a ban against food product containers containing the chemical bisphenol A, also known as BPA. The ban has also put pressure on Wal-Mart chains, leading them to eliminate the baby bottles with this chemical from their shelves within the next year.

Bisphenol A is used in some plastics, and can be found in common household items, including some can linings, water bottles, and baby bottles. The chemical does get into the food and drink of products packaged in these plastics, but the amount is extremely tiny.

I agree that this chemical, and others like it, should be eliminated as much as possible from our food and water packages. What I don't agree with is the hype being put out there in the media, linking the use of bisphenol A with a number of health problems, including infertility and miscarriage.

An article in the British Telegraph newspaper, Infertility: Handle With Care, implies that these chemicals are the cause of a number of health problems, including infertility. While the article itself makes clear that the scientists are "suspicious" but can't prove its effect, the chart at the end of the article makes it seem like there's no doubt these chemicals are to blame.

So far, studies of the bisphenol A have been linked to a number of heath problems, including infertility and miscarriage, in mice... mice -- not people. Plus, the mice were given a steady diet, so to speak, of the chemical. Our intake of these chemicals is far below what the mice were purposely fed, in large quantities.

Do I think these chemicals should be removed from our food and water containers? Yes, absolutely. Is there reason to panic? I don't think so.

But the big question for infertility suffers -- will avoiding these chemicals, once infertility is diagnosed, make much difference? I doubt it. But who can say?

If you want to avoid these chemicals in your plastic water bottles, look for and avoid the number 7, usually found within the recycle symbol. The "number 7" plastics contain BPA.

What do you think? Do you think the hype is, well, hype, or legitimate concern? Do you plan on avoiding products with BPA? Share your thoughts, either in the comments section below, or on our forums.

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