Bisphenol “A” or “BPA” is used in making some plastic bottles and in the plastic linings of some canned foods.

Carl Werntz, D.O., with WVU Community Medicine says, "Bisphenol a is chemical that sometimes comes out of plastic and epoxy products back into food or drink that is contained in that bottle. There are some types of bottles that produce bisphenol a and other kinds of bottles that don’t."

Six baby bottle companies are now making bottles without bpa after some studies linked the chemical to hormonal health problems in animals.

A recent study found that people with higher levels of “BPA” in their system had higher rates of heart disease, diabetes and liver problems. But the chemical industry maintains that plastic bottles are safe, while the fda is still reviewing bpa safety.

Carl Werntz, D.O., with WVU Community Medicine says, "Werntz:as we accumulate more evidence for human harm, there may be change to the FDA’s position, but right now, but right now their opinion is that there is no concrete evidence of human disease, so they have not banished the products although many other health watchdog organizations have recommended against the use of bisphenol a containing plastics especially for children and pregnant women."

To reduce your exposure to BPA, eat less canned food and more frozen or fresh food. Avoid plastic bottles and containers with the recycling number “7” or the letters “PC” on the bottom. Many sport water bottles are number sevens—so look for the label that says no “BPA” when you buy it.