Chemical Hazard on Sandy Shores

By Jim Clugger

Just as the beach season is wrapping up in the northern stretches of U.S. shores, we are learning of a new beach hazard. Beachgoers were already concerned about too much sun exposure, the increasing population of great white sharks in the north Atlantic, and now a concern of our own making appears – Bisphenol A (BPA). A recent study in Environmental Research discovered that BPA is found on sandy beaches at much higher concentrations than in typical soil samples. The plastic-forming chemical compound is harmful to human health and is yet another example of how the global addiction to plastics is a public health as well as an ecological crisis.

As part of the newly published study, researchers obtained sand samples from 26 beaches around the world, including 7 in the U.S. The average concentration of BPA in the samples was found to be 4,247 parts per million (ppm), which is about 600,000 times larger than previously reported environmental soil averages by the EPA (0.0065 ppm). The highest levels of BPA that the authors found were on Greek beaches.

BPA is an industrial chemical that has been used to make certain plastics and resins since the 1950s. It is found in polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins. Polycarbonate plastics are often used in containers that store food and beverages, such as water bottles. BPA can seep into food or beverages from containers that are made with BPA, causing potential health effects on the brain and prostate gland of fetuses, infants and children. Research also suggests a possible link between BPA and increased blood pressure, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

The presence of BPA on beaches is a direct result of plastic pollution. As plastics break down in the environment, they release the chemicals used to make them, including BPA. This is yet another reason why reducing our dependence on single-use plastics is so critical for both human health and the health of our planet.

At VITRI, we believe that the solution starts with the choices we make every day. By choosing glass over plastic for our drinkware, we can reduce the amount of plastic that ends up in our environment and on our beaches. Glass is a natural, inert material that does not leach chemicals into our beverages or our environment.

VITRI is committed to making durable and sophisticated products that rival the convenience of plastics without the environmental burden. We believe technology and design innovations can revolutionize how Americans and the world consume products in a more environmentally responsible manner.