A new trending topic has many medical professionals and viewers at home talking about whether or not plastic containers are safe for your children or not.
The Now Bakersfield's Tori Cooper spoke to Kern County medical professionals to find out more about what parents need to know Thursday.
The American Academy of Pediatrics warned parents about the harmful chemicals associated with plastic containers and how it can negatively impacts children and now the academy is urging the federal government to look into the issue.
Doctors in Kern County told Cooper that they agree with the academy and provided further clarification for everyone Thursday.
Many parents are on the go and when it comes to food sometimes many people have to take it to go, but now health officials in Kern County are hoping parents will think twice.
"The general recommendation is to try to avoid using plastic containers especially in the microwave, the fear is that when you heat up, microwave plastic the chemicals in the plastic may make it into your food," Kaiser Permanente Family Phyisician Benjamin Ha said.
Ha said that different chemicals are used to give plastics firm and flexible properties but they are not meant for human consumption, "BPA as well as Phthalates are two of the chemicals that are most concerning in plastics." BPA or Bisphenol A is the chemical used to manufacture hard plastics, including those used in some food containers according to Ha.
A new study conducted by the American Academy of Pediatrics also found that people exposed to BPA are experiencing more behavioral problems at age three, especially females, "Because kids are still developing you know the exposure to these chemicals over time, high levels of exposure, could potentially affect their development as they get older," Ha said.
In the study conducted by the academy researchers found that based off children they tested between ages one and three, girls are more sensitive to BPA concentrations than boys and may see more impacts on their neurobehavioral functional health. Which includes their nervous system, behavior and learning abilities.
Doctor Ha said there are alternatives to plastic people should consider using, "When heating something in the microwave I would recommend using glass or ceramic."
According to Ha there are no noticeable signs and symptoms that one will encounter from BPA ingestion, so it's best to just be cognizant of consumption.
Here at the now Cooper wanted to see what many people were taking to so she checked inside of the break room fridge and just about on every shelf, you could find a plastic container.
Bottom line, the academy and local doctors said it's best to make the change, "Avoid plastics if at all possible," Ha said.
