Many people have heard by now that plastics can leach a dangerous compound into liquid and food, especially when heated. The compound, BPA, has been shown to mimic sex hormones. By mimicing estrogen and blocking testosterone, the compound can be especially dangerous for developing bodies. One study showed that EVERY subject tested in the U.S. had evidence of this compound in their bodies.

Yet the plastics industry claims it’s harmless:

“You can’t open a scientific journal related to sex hormones and not read an article that would just floor you about this chemical.. The chemical industry’s position that this is a weak chemical has been proven totally false. This is a phenomenally potent chemical as a sex hormone.”

In their study, Vom Saal and Hughes suggest an explanation for the conflicting results of studies: All 11 of those funded by chemical companies found no risk, while 90% of the 104 government-funded, non-industry studies reported harmful effects.”

http://www.infocafe.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=247

To say the least, don’t put hot beverages in plastic, don’t heat anything in plastic and remove saran wrap from food before heating. As I write this, I’m at a pretty progressive coffee house that somehow still uses plastic stirs. Even big ol’ corporate Starbucks got this message – they use wood.