Tests find BPA in “microwave safe” plastics

Tests conducted by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel found toxic doses of the chemical bisphenol A (BPA) was released from plastics marketed as “microwave safe,” according to an article published on Nov. 15.

In a groundbreaking article by investigative journalists Susanne Rust and Meg Kissinger, it was reported that the amounts of BPA detected from 10 items tested in a lab were at levels scientists have found “cause neurological and developmental damage” in laboratory animals, including the abnormal development of mammary glands. The Journal Sentinel noted that the changes to the mammary glands were identical to those observed in women at higher risk for breast cancer.

The Journal Sentinel’s study also broadens the understanding of the number and types of plastics that contain BPA. It was previously understood that BPA was in the lining of some cans and in hard, clear plastics marked with the recycling number 7.  But the newspaper’s tests found BPA in “microwave safe” plastics, including frozen food trays, microwaveable soup containers and plastic baby food packaging, which are stamped with recycling numbers 1, 2 and 5.

"There is no such thing as safe microwaveable plastic," said Frederick vom Saal, a University of Missouri researcher who oversaw the newspaper's testing.

Professor Nira Ben-Jonathan, whose research has found that BPA interferes with chemotherapy  said that the chemicals effects may not be immediately obvious, but can be devastating over time.

"They used to say DDT was safe, too," Ben-Jonathan said.

Plastic food storage products are just one source of BPA exposure. Gail McCarver, a physician who led the National Toxicology Program’s investigation of BPA testified before the FDA in September and expressed concern about the roughly 500,000 premature babies born each year who are exposed to plastic tubing in hospitals. “The government should be protecting the smallest, most vulnerable baby, not just the average child,” she was noted as saying in the Journal Sentinel story.

A mother of an 18-month old son was “troubled” to hear the newspaper’s test results, particularly the news that “microwave safe” plastics leach BPA.

"I try to be a good consumer and a good parent," she said. "But you have to be able to trust the labels."

Click here for more about BPA health effects and a timeline of BPA-related events.