New Testing Finds High Levels of BPA in Common Sports Bras and Athletic Wear Brands

New testing on a variety of branded sports bras and athletic wear found high levels of BPA, a chemical compound that can lead to numerous health issues.

Source: CBS Miami/YouTube

The Center for Environmental Health (CEH) conducted tests on sports bras sold by Athleta, PINK, Asics, The North Face, Brooks, All in Motion, Nike, and FILA. They also conducted tests on athletic wear brands, including The North Face, Brooks, Mizuno, Athleta, New Balance, and Reebok. The results showed that these clothing could expose wearers to up to 22 times the safe limit of BPA, based on California standards.

The CEH send legal notices to the 8 brands of sports bras and 6 brands of athletic shirts after testing revealed a high level of BPA. BPA is a well-studied hormone-disrupting chemical. It can mimic estrogen and disrupt normal functioning in the body, including metabolism, growth, development, and reproduction, CEH reports.

“The problem with BPA is it can mimic hormones like estrogen and block other hormone receptors, altering the concentration of hormones in our bodies, and resulting in negative health effects,” said Dr. Jimena Díaz Leiva, Science Director at CEH. “Even low levels of exposure during pregnancy have been associated with a variety of health problems in offspring. These problems include abnormal development of the mammary glands and ovaries that can increase the likelihood of developing breast or ovarian cancer later in life. These effects occur even at low levels of exposure like those seen in people today.”

It isn’t the first time that a CEH investigation has found BPA in clothing. This year, the CEH has pushed over 90 companies to reformulate their products to remove all bisphenols, including BPA, and thankfully, some have agreed to do so.

“People are exposed to BPA through ingestion (e.g., from eating food or drinking water from containers that have leached BPA) or by absorption through skin (e.g., from handling receipt paper),” said Kaya Allan Sugerman, Illegal Toxic Threats Program Director at CEH. “Studies have shown that BPA can be absorbed through skin and end up in the bloodstream after handling receipt paper for seconds or a few minutes at a time. Sports bras and athletic shirts are worn for hours at a time, and you are meant to sweat in them, so it is concerning to be finding such high levels of BPA in our clothing.”

BPA is often used in plastics manufacturing, including water bottles, Tupperware, and numerous plastic products used by millions. Research on BPA found it could be harmful to pregnant women by causing placental disease or pregnancy loss. It also causes negative health issues after birth. So scientists replaced it with an alternative.

As consumers, we have to stand up for our right to know what is in the clothes we were, the food we consume, and the products we buy. Please share this post and encourage others to learn more about BPA. For more information on how to avoid this chemical, click here. While you’re at it, check out these 5 Hidden Places You May Find BPA!

Related Content:

• Study Finds BPA-Free Plastics Are Just as Harmful, Could Affect Brain Development
• New Study Finds 86% of Teenagers Have Harmful BPA in Their System
• 4 Reasons Why BPA-Free Plastics Can Still Harm Your Health
• WTH?! FDA Allows Use of BPA in Cans Science Says They’re Wrong
• Beware the Evilest of Plastics! 5 Hidden Places You May Find BPA

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