Plastic containers and
linings often leach chemicals into the surrounding environment. And
some of those chemicals, like the endocrine-disrupting bisphenol-A
(BPA) and phthalates, may be harmful to your health.
Manufacturers have even
begun advertising some products as "BPA-free." But a
recent study found that most plastic products leach
endocrine-disrupting chemicals even if they're labeled "BPA-free!"
The scientists found that 70 percent of common plastic products
tested positive for estrogenic activity, and that number rose to 95
percent when the products were subject to real-world conditions such
as dishwashing or microwaving.
Time Magazine reports:
"BPA
is particularly worrisome simply because it is so common. Nearly
every American has some amount of BPA in his or her body, in part
because plastics are so ubiquitous."