How to Prevent Breast Cancer: 20 Risk Factors

Bisphenol A, also known as BPA, is a chemical found in many food containers, and polycarbonate plastic water bottles. Unfortunately BPA leeches out of bottles and into the fluid you’ll be drinking.

BPA is a hormone-mimicking chemical and there is substantial scientific evidence linking exposures to BPA with the development of a number of health problems including breast cancer, as well as heart disease, diabetes and other metabolic problems, and learning disorders.

The detrimental effects of BPA may be especially severe when developing fetuses and young children are exposed to the chemical, leading to lifelong increases in risk for cancer and other disorders. Avoiding BPA-contaminated products is therefore especially important for pregnant women and young children. But its pervasive effects as a synthetic hormone suggest that we all should take care to minimize our exposures to this chemical.

In place of plastic bottles, high-quality stainless steel bottles (look for "18/8" or "8/10" steel, which refers to the composition of the steel) can be purchased in many stores and online from Kleen Kanteen (which makes donations for sales of pink bottles to The Breast Cancer Fund) as well as several other sources. For infants and toddlers, Born Free and other companies now make baby bottles made of stainless steel or other substances that are free of BPA, phthalates, and other toxic chemicals.