Are BPA-free plastics really safe? - Chicago News and Weather | FOX 32 News

Are BPA-free plastics really safe?

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Many parents buy BPA-free plastic because they think it's safer for their children. A new scientific study says that might not be risk-free after all.

BPA is a chemical used in plastics to make it hard.  It was banned by the FDA for use in things like baby bottles and sippy cups. Tests showed there might be cancer risks for fetuses and children when the chemical leaches into their systems.

Here's the problem:  the replacement for BPA is called BPS, and a new independent studies show BPS might be actually worse.  This news doesn't surprise a research scientist at Emory University's School of Public Health.  

Professor Dana Barr says the problem is that the law allows for untested chemicals to be used in everyday products.  According to Barr, chemicals don't have to be proven safe. Instead, it's  what she calls "safe until proven toxic."

Experts in the field will tell you that this is very confusing for the average consumer, and the FDA complicates it.  In this case, the government said in 2008 BPA was safe, then in 2010 expressed concerns about health risks, and ultimately banned it. For more information on the issue, click here!

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