We Eat What We Don’t See: BPA Leakage into Drinking Water and Its Silent Hormonal Disruption

Author: Ahmed Ali Mohammed Al-Shamarti
Specialization: Public Health
Member of Together to Protect Human and the Environment Association
Location: Iraq / Al-Najaf Al-Ashraf

Introduction

The current century has witnessed a widespread reliance on plastics in all aspects of life, from food storage to drinking water networks. This prevalence has raised concerns about the chemical compounds released by plastics when exposed to heat or long-term storage.
One of the most common compounds is Bisphenol A (BPA), found in water bottles, plastic wraps, piping systems, and the inner linings of cans.

What is BPA and Why is it Used?

BPA was developed in the early 20th century as a key component in manufacturing hard, transparent plastics (Polycarbonate) and epoxy resins used for can linings.
This compound can mimic the hormone estrogen by binding to its receptors in the body, classifying it as an endocrine disruptor.
Although acute exposure to large amounts of BPA is rare, chronic exposure to very small amounts—at levels of parts per million or even parts per billion—has been linked to physiological changes that accumulate slowly over time.
The dilemma: A single dose is negligible, but over time and repeated consumption, it becomes biologically significant.

Pathways of BPA Leakage into Drinking Water

BPA can leach from plastics into drinking water through three main pathways:

1. Thermal Leakage
   Elevated water temperature inside plastic bottles—especially when left in cars or under direct sunlight—increases BPA migration into the liquid.
   Laboratory experiments have shown that heating can raise the leakage rate by up to 40 times compared to room temperature.

2. Physical Degradation
   Scratches, bends, and repeated reuse of plastic bottles break down chemical bonds in polycarbonate, allowing free BPA molecules to migrate into the water.

3. Leakage from Water Networks and Packaging Materials
   Plastic pipes used for water transport, tank linings, filtration devices, and plastic packaging during long-term water storage.

Why BPA is Dangerous

BPA is not a traditional toxic substance; it causes functional changes in cells.
Its structure resembles estrogen, enabling it to bind to estrogen receptors and disrupt normal biological signaling, particularly in the brain, glands, and reproductive organs.

Key Health Effects:

• During pregnancy: BPA exposure can affect brain development, cell differentiation, and future hormonal sensitivity.
• Later in life: Chronic exposure is linked to metabolic disorders such as insulin resistance, central obesity, and thyroid dysfunction.
• BPA has been detected in adult urine, umbilical cord blood, and breast milk, indicating widespread and continuous exposure.

Recommendations to Reduce BPA Exposure

1. Choose BPA-free containers (labeled BPA-Free) or use glass, stainless steel, or ceramic for storing water and food.
2. Avoid exposing plastics to heat; do not leave water bottles in hot cars or pour hot liquids (tea, coffee, soup) into reusable plastic containers.
3. Do not reuse single-use plastic bottles.
4. Pay special attention to food storage for infants and children, as they are more sensitive to endocrine disruptors. Use glass or BPA-free bottles, avoid heating milk directly in plastic containers, and store baby food in glass jars.
5. Promote community awareness about the risks of chronic BPA exposure, scientific methods to minimize it, and safe alternatives—this helps reduce collective exposure and supports environmental legislation.