Dear Timi,
I’m concerned about using plastic water bottles and food containers since I read that there is increasing evidence that they are not safe and perhaps hazardous to our health. Do you have any more specific information on this subject?

Dear Reader,
There have been several studies on this subject. The one that was published recently by the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) got a lot of attention. According to this study, higher levels of urinary Biphenol A (BPA), a chemical compound used in many plastic containers made for packaging of food and beverages (including plastic water bottles), have been found in individuals who have been diagnosed with cardiovascular disease, diabetes and liver problems. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not yet released an official statement about BPA but has scheduled a hearing. BPA is widely used in the industry and various levels of the chemical have been detected, according to researchers, in more than 90 percent of the U.S. population.

Since no government action has been taken yet to eliminate BPA from the production process of plastic containers, you may have to take matters in your own hand. There are plastic containers available that are BPA free and they are advertised as such. Or you may switch to products made of stainless steel or other materials.

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