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Plasticisers

What is BPA-free and where is BPA found?

3 minutes read
Bisphenol A (BPA) is contained in many drink bottles, milk cartons, plastic containers or tin can coatings. What is the problem? It affects the human hormone system. The "BPA-free" label helps consumers to avoid these substances.

Was does BPA-free mean?

“BPA-free” means that no bisphenol A is contained in products labeled as such. Bisphenol A is a plasticiser in plastics and resins. It is contained in many everyday objects such as drink bottles, food containers, or plastic tableware. It may release itself when in contact with food from products containing BPA and then enter the human body.

Why is BPA used?

The chemical bisphenol A was first used in the 1960s in the production of synthetic resins, polyesters, polycarbonates, and other plastics.

The economic and technical importance of bisphenol A is enormous: plastics based on BPA are very light, hold their shape well and are transparent. In addition, they can be easily dyed. As a softener, BPA also ensures that materials become more supple, more flexible as well as more elastic.

Brands such as GSI, Nalgene, Primus or Klean Kanteen manufacture their products BPA-free. | Photo: Bergzeit

The production and sale of soothers and baby bottles made with bisphenol A were banned by law or voluntarily withdrawn from the market by manufacturers in the EU as early as 2011. Since then, only BPA-free products have been available on the market. However, BPA is still present in many other sectors for example in the production of water bottles.

How does BPA enter the body?

When the packaging material is heated, it is possible for particles of the chemical to be released from the plastic product into food, i.e. food or liquid.

For example, if a plastic bottle heats up for several hours in a car due to sun exposure, the substance will be absorbed into the water. For the same reason, you should not put hot drinks or food in polycarbonate containers, because the heat that is generated may cause the plasticiser to dissolve.

What are the effects of BPA on human health?

There are several scientific studies on the effects of BPA on human health (see, for example, information on BPA from “Health and Environment.org). These studies showed that BPA is a substance with hormone-like effects. For example, bisphenol A can inhibit the physical development of children and disturb the hormonal balance in adults, which can also affect fertility. The chemical may also contribute to the development of cardiovascular diseases, liver problems, and diabetes.

Since January 2018, bisphenol A is on the REACH Candidate List because of its harmful impact on both humans and the environment. REACH is the European Union’s chemicals legislation designed to protect human health and the environment from the risks posed by chemicals.

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) reduced the limit for bisphenol A from 50 micrograms to 4 micrograms per kilogram of body weight per day in early 2015. This level is currently considered safe for humans.

How can the risks of BPA be prevented?

The effects and potential damage to human health caused by the BPA chemical are still controversial. Therefore, the clear answer to the question of how to prevent the risks of BPA should simply avoid it completely and only buy products, which have been labeled as 100% BPA-free.

This is why we at Bergzeit have compiled all products for which the manufacturers guarantee that they are BPA-free on one page. This way you can avoid BPA even when using outdoor equipment such as drink bottles, hydration bladders, or food containers.

BPA-freies Essgeschirr aus Edelstahl.
BPA-free alternatives include, for example, stainless steel tableware.| Photo: GSI

This is made easy when it comes to drinking bottles: Simply choose a BPA-free plastic drink bottle or one made from stainless steel. In the Bergzeit Shop, you’ll find a huge selection of BPA-free children’s drink bottles as well as BPA-free bottles for cycling.

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