It may be time to ban BPA from anything that touches your lips and those of your children, and anyone else you happen to love. It's increasingly clear that bisphenol A (BPA), a compound used to harden plastic used to make bottles and food containers, poses risks, especially to babies and children.

A study from Harvard School of Public Health, shows just how quickly the compound goes from bottles to bodies. College students drank from hard plastic polycarbonate bottles made with BPA. Levels of the compound in urine rose by two thirds in a week.

The danger? In animal studies since 1998, the researchers note, exposure to BPA in the womb and in early childhood has been linked with early puberty, precancerous changes in breast tissue, and in males, less sperm at maturity. In humans, it's linked with "chronic disease...including cardiovascular disease, diabetes and serum markers of liver disease." (Some studies find a link to obesity.) A growing grass-roots scientific lobby is seeking more research on the hypothesis that BPA may be a key factor in early puberty for girls—even before age 7 or 8.

No wonder Canada has proposed banning BPA from baby bottles, as have many retailers, and major U.S. baby bottle manufacturers. Chicago, Minnesota, Connecticut and Suffolk County in New York have passed their own bans of BPA from baby bottles and sippy cups.

Still, BPA's out there. That's why it may be worth a little diligence in finding BPA-free products (especially baby bottles and sippy cups) and food containers. BPA-free alternatives are widely advertised. Glass and unlined stainless steel are generally safe alternatives, though not always convenient. Yes, the alternatives often cost more, and it's not an easy time for many people to be spending more money. But it may be time for anyone who cares about her health and the health of her family to declare a personal BPA ban.

Related Links:

BPA-Free Baby Bottles, Sippy Cups and More

Reduce Your Exposure to Plastics