Wake Up and Smell the Chemicals
What expecting mothers don’t know about their morning coffee (but they should)
When you’re pregnant, there are certain precautions you must take. Don’t drink alcohol. Eat organic. Avoid soft cheeses. But what about the daily exposures you don’t consider? Everyday millions of Americans wake up and start their day with a cup of joe- one in five to be exact. And while it is common knowledge that you should limit your caffeine intake when you’re expecting, there are many other risks that can come with your morning coffee.
All plastic is bad plastic?
In 2012, after rising concern from the general public and mothers in particular, the FDA, or Food and Drug Administration, banned the use of BPA in baby bottles and sippy cups. This ban was a result of rising concern that plastics containing BPA were leaching hormones in the milk of infants. BPA free became a common advertisement in baby isles across the country, and soon began to spread to other products as well. However, many specialists have begun raising questions over whether or not BPA free translates to safe for consumption.
“What we’re saying… is that BPA free does not mean that the product is free of chemicals having estrogenic activity… Any chemical that has those effects would produce the same problem” (Wilder, 2012). George Bittner, a neuroscience professor at the University of Texas, is one of the leading researchers in the field. Bittner is the founder of both CertiChem and PlastiPure, which are dedicated to testing current consumer plastics for any signs of chemical leaching as well as develop new and safer plastic options.
One study conducted by Bittner and his team produced particularly alarming results. The study tested over 400 different types of plastics products available to consumers (Yang, Yaniger, Jordan, Klien, & Bittner, 2011).Almost every product was found to be leaching some level of estrogenic hormones when placed under common stressors. All 400 of the products were also being advertised as BPA free.
“BPA free does not mean that the product is free of chemicals.. Any chemical that has those effects would produce the same problem.”
-George Bittner
Plastic leaching occurs when the product is exposed to an outside stressor, such as extreme heat. When the plastic is warmed up, the plastic releases chemicals that act like the sex hormone estrogen. This is particularly a problem when it comes to food and drink products. A Tupperware dish stuck in the microwave or a plastic bottle placed in warm water contaminates the food that people then ingest. While the exact affect of these kinds of chemicals is unknown, there have been many studies conducted to assess the safety of these kinds of chemicals. The possibility of leaching could be particularly troubling for expecting mothers, as it has been proven that the nutrients in their body have the capability of alternating the genomes of fetuses. (Wu, Bazer, Cudd, Meininger, & Spencer, 2004)
Chemicals, your baby, and you
Sippy cups and water bottles are not the only way to be exposed to these estrogenic chemicals. Since the 1950s, global plastic production has continued to increase at significant rates (Grun, 2016). More and more products are being made out of plastic every year. As a result, people face a higher chance of being exposed to the estrogen like hormones that can be produced through plastic leaching. While the regular consumption of these chemicals can be hazardous to anyone’s health, there are certain groups that are more vulnerable than others, specifically expecting mother and their fetus.
During pregnancy, any thing the mother consumes is passed through the umbilical cord. Therefore, whatever mom is exposed to, she is also exposing her unborn child. In the case of plastic leaching, exposure to high levels of estrogen hormones can result in some pretty significant effects to the child. One study found that exposure to polystyrene, a plastic found commonly in food packaging, can decrease iron absorption in chickens (Mahler et al., 2012). If the same effects are shown in humans, pregnant mothers may develop anemia, which has been linked to low birth rates (Allen, 2000).Another study found that increased estrogen exposure in utero significant increases the likelihood of the child developing testicular cancer in the future (Depue, Pike, & Henderson, 1983). There has also been evidence to suggest that these hormones can lead to poor reproductive health for men, although studies have not been able to prove conclusively that this this the case (Vidaeff & Sever, 2005).
Do you take chemicals in your coffee?
As a result of the possible risks, the obvious answer seems to be to stop using plastic water bottles. However, this is not the only time individuals are being exposed to leaching chemicals. One in five adults in the United States uses a single use coffee pod on a regular basis (Gonzalez, 2014). Green Mountain, the leading producer of k-cups, uses #7 composite plastic in their coffee pods (Park, 2014). While they have refused to confirm or deny the fact that their pods contain polystyrene, the chemical linked to decreased iron absorption, Bittner’s study of over 400 types of plastic found that 100% of #7 composite plastics tested positive for chemical leaching (Yang, Yaniger, Jordan, Klien, & Bittner, 2011).
1/5 ADULTS IN THE US USES SINGLE USE COFFEE PODS
Expecting mothers are told to limit their caffeine intake, however they are not told to consider whether or not their method of making their morning cup of coffee is safe for their unborn child. As a result, pregnant women are unknowingly exposing themselves and their baby to potentially dangerous chemicals that plastic companies are passes off as safe by using buzzwords such as BPA free.
How to stop poisoning your baby
Here’s the good new, there is an easy and cost effective way to reduce your child’s exposure to these dangerous chemicals. Stop using single use coffee pods. If the fact that you will reduce the risk of your child developing cancer or developmental delays is not reason enough, you will also save lots of money. The average drip coffee maker averages at around $25 (Tuttle, 2015). In comparison, the off-brand Keurig goes for just under $100. And that’s just for the machine. Studies have shown that buying single use coffee pods can cost the consumer an extra $400 dollars a year. Buying single use coffee pods is equivalent to spending $40 per pound of coffee, which is double, if not triple, the price of a bag of coffee beans (Tuttle, 2015).
Even John Sylvan, the inventor of the single use coffee pods, doesn’t use the system. He has gone on the record stating, “I don’t have one. They are expensive to use… it’s not like drip coffee is tough to make” (Tuttle, 2015).
If your goal is just to save money and time, drip coffee makers are your best bet. However, many of these coffee makers come equipped with a plastic where the hot water runs through the filter. Because a majority of commercially available plastics have been shown to leach, it would make sense to conclude that the plastic in the coffee makers also leach. But don’t panic, there are many methods, both new and old, of brewing an estrogen free cup of coffee.
The first method may involve stealing your grandma’s coffee maker. A percolator that is made up entirely of stainless steel allows the consumer to enjoy a cup of coffee without the risk of estrogen leaches. However, there are other risks that are associated with stressors and stainless steel. One study found that when exposed to slightly acidic mediums, such as coffee, the material could leach chromium into the liquid (Kumar, Srivastava, & Srivastava, 1994). Increased levels of chromium has been linked to a decrease in birth weights, with a higher risk for female infants (Xia et al, 2016). Therefore, while switching to a percolator would reduce some of the risks of plastic leaching, there is still some danger associated with this method.
Because the dangers of coffee makers come from the leaching caused by the hot water, glass coffee makers are the safest route. The Chemex is an all glass alternative to other coffee makers. However, because of its low-tech design, it does take more work to use than other approaches. Because no health risks have been discovered about glass leaching, it is assumed that this method of brewing coffee would be the safest route for expecting mothers.
Take home message
Everyday we are exposed to hundreds of chemicals through our daily routes. Some of these chemicals have been proven to dangerous, while the effects of other have yet to be studied. While there is scientific proof that a majority of plastics on the market leach estrogenic chemicals, the exact consequences of these exposures is not yet known. While science has been able to prove correlations to pregnant mother’s exposure and health issues for infants, some studies have failed to prove causation. Switching to a different coffee system is an easy and cost effective way to help prevent any possible health complications that may be tied to single use coffee pods.
References
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Depue, R. H., Pike, M. C., & Henderson, B. E. (1983). Estrogen exposure during gestation and risk of testicular cancer. JNCI: Journal of the National Cancer Institute, 71(6), 1151–1155. https://doi.org/10.1093/jnci/71.6.1151
Ferdman, R. (2016) America’s favorite coffee trend may be coming to an end. The Washington Post.Retrieved from the washingtonpost.com
González, Á. (2014, February 15). Single-serve coffee revolution brews industry change. Seattle Times. Retrieved from https://www.seattletimes.com/business/single-serve-coffee-revolution-brews-industry-change/
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Mahler, G. J., Esch, M. B., Tako, E., Southard, T. L., Archer, S. D., Glahn, R. P., & Shuler, M. L. (2012). Oral exposure to polystyrene nanoparticles affects iron absorption. Nature Nanotechnology,7(4), 264–271. https://doi.org/10.1038/nnano.2012.3
Park, A. (2014). A frightening field guide to common plastics. Mother Jones. Retrieved from https://www.motherjones.com/environment/2014/03/guide-estrogen-common-plastics-bpa/
Tuttle, B. (2015). K-cups vs. traditionally brewed coffee: A price comparison | Money. Retrieved April 14, 2018, from http://time.com/money/3733586/k-cups-price-cost-comparison-coffee/
Vidaeff, A. C., & Sever, L. E. (2005). In utero exposure to environmental estrogens and male reproductive health: a systematic review of biological and epidemiologic evidence. Reproductive Toxicology, 20(1), 5–20. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.reprotox.2004.12.015
Wilder, F. (2012). Does — BPA-Free’ Mean It’s Safe? Retrieved from https://www.texasobserver.org/does-bpa-free-mean-its-safe/
Wu, G., Bazer, F. W., Cudd, T. A., Meininger, C. J., & Spencer, T. E. (2004). Maternal nutrition and fetal development. The Journal of Nutrition, 134(9), 2169–2172. https://doi.org/10.1093/jn/134.9.2169
Xia, W., Hu, J., Zhang, B., Li, Y., Wise, J. P., Bassig, B. A., … Xu, S. (2016). A case-control study of maternal exposure to chromium and infant low birth weight in China. Chemosphere,144, 1484–1489. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2015.10.006
Yang, C. Z., Yaniger, S. I., Jordan, V. C., Klein, D. J., & Bittner, G. D. (2011). Most plastic products release estrogenic chemicals: a potential health problem that can be solved. Environmental Health Perspectives, 119(7), 989–996. https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1003220
