When public pressure forced the U.S. Food and Drug Adminstration to ban the sale of plastic baby bottles containing the chemical bisphenol A (BPA) in 2012, it looked like a major victory for consumers.

But increasing evidence shows many “BPA-free” plastics that have been rolled out as an alternative aren’t safe either.

BPA is an estrogen-mimicking chemical that can disrupt the endocrine system and affect every cell in the body.

“A lot of people don’t realize it, but BPA was originally designed as a pharmaceutical estrogen,” says Laura Vandenberg, professor of environmental health sciences at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst. “Instead, it ended up in food packaging.”

After studies showed that BPA can adversely affect brain and reproductive development in fetuses, infants, and children, it caused a national uproar.

Practically overnight, store shelves were lined with “BPA-free” bottles for babies as well as adults.

Most consumers assumed that BPA-free plastics were safe. But studies indicate the vast majority of BPA-free” plastics may also pose risks.

In public, manufacturers insisted they were doing the right thing for public health. Behind the scenes, however, they were pulling off a sly switcheroo.

“They got rid of BPA, but many of the compounds they substituted for it also have estrogenic activity. So they haven’t solved the problem,” says George Bittner, professor of neurobiology at The University of Texas at Austin and founder of CertiChem and PlastiPure, two companies designed to test and discover non-estrogenic plastics.

In a 2011 study, Bittner and his colleagues tested 455 commercially available plastics and found that 95 percent of them released estrogenic chemicals.

In a follow-up 2014 study, they tested 50 reusable BPA-free plastic containers and found that more than 75 percent of them released estrogenic chemicals, either on their own or after being subjected to everyday conditions such as heat from a dishwasher or microwave or sunlight.

Epidemiological studies in humans show an association between estrogenic chemicals and the following conditions: ADHD, asthma, birth defects, cancer, diabetes, fatigue, heart disease, infertility, liver problems, low sperm count, and weight gain.

What’s more, hundreds of animal studies show that estrogenic chemicals cause harm. For example, a zebra fish study demonstrated that such chemicals cause an explosive growth of brain neurons that leads to hyperactivity. A rat study demonstrated that such chemicals cause heart arrhythmia.

“It’s safer to assume that a plastic will leach chemicals than to assume it won’t,” Vandenberg tells Newsmax Health. “Just because a plastic product has a ‘microwave safe’ label, that doesn’t mean it’s safe. It only means that it’s safe for the plastic to go into the microwave.”

Whenever possible, avoid the use of plastics, Vandenberg advises. Her other common-sense tips include:

• Store food and beverages in glass instead of plastic containers.
• Reheat food on ceramic plates instead of plastic.
• Replace plastic water bottles with stainless steel.

Be aware, however, that some stainless-steel bottles may be lined with BPA or other materials containing estrogenic chemicals. A little online research and/or a call to the manufacturer can help ensure that you buy a chemical-free bottle.

Water bottles that have recently tested positive for estrogenic activity after exposure to ultraviolet light include CamelBak (black), CamelBak (blue), and Nalgene (blue). Water bottles testing negative for estrogenic activity after exposure to ultraviolet light include Topas, Zeonor, and Nalgene (green).

Avoid the following plastic resins, which are associated with estrogenic activity: acrylic, PES (polyethersulfone), and PS (polystyrene). These plastic resins are not associated with estrogenic activity: COC (cyclic olefin copolymer), COP (cyclic olefin polymer), PETG (polyethylene terephthalate glycol-modified).

The full version of this article appeared in Health Radar newsletter. To read more, click here.