New Study Reveals A Promising Alternative for Endocrine-Disrupting BPA and Its Toxic Cousins

Chemical Company Sets the Bar with New Model for Developing New Chemicals and Testing for Safety Before Manufacturing Begins

Good news! A new scientific study shows there is a replacement for BPA in food can linings that has no measurable estrogenic activity or other endocrine disrupting properties – unlike the many BPA-alternatives that are just as bad (or worse) than BPA.

BPA and its “regrettable substitutions” are linked with breast and prostate cancer, asthma, obesity, behavioral problems (including attention deficit disorder), immune system disorders, impaired brain development, low birth weight babies, and decreased sperm counts – even at extremely low levels of exposure.

So it’s really encouraging to know that there is a new chemical on the horizon that has actually been tested before being used. Its name is TMBPF. Remember that, because you’ll be hearing more about it once it goes into production and starts showing up on grocery store shelves.

But as good as this news about TMBPF itself is, the story gets even better: Chemical manufacturer Valspar developed a new blueprint for developing new chemicals and testing them for safety called “Safety By Design.” This standard, with its commitment to safety testing by truly independent scientists, should set the bar for the entire chemical industry and the US Environmental Protection Agency as it moves to implement the new federal legislation for toxic chemicals (Lautenberg Act).

Meanwhile, BPA and its toxic cousins are still in widespread use – so what can you do protect yourself and your family? Here are a few tips:

• Use glass or stainless steel water bottles
• NEVER use a microwave oven to heat anything in plastic containers
• Buy fresh or frozen produce instead of canned whenever possible
• If you must buy canned food, avoid acidic foods (e.g., tomato products)

For more ideas how to avoid BPA, try these tips from our good friends at Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families and Silent Spring Institute.

 

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

*Read the story of TMBPF’s development and testing by a partnership between a chemical manufacturer (Valspar) and a team of independent scientists at Tufts University here and here.

*Read the scientific paper here.