I'd be happy to stop doing all this, but until the government starts testing household plastics in ways that will tell us what's safe and what's not, I will go on being a little obsessed. There are many ways moms try to protect their families. My list just got a little longer. Risky Numbers Bake and completely cool a cake/cake layers. These step-by-step photos show round cakes, but you can freeze square, rectangle, Bundt cakes, etc. See my 10 best Cake Baking Tips for best practices on baking and cooling cakes. That will likely change, though slowly. In 2000, the EPA established the Endocrine Disruptor Screening Program. But due to prolonged debate among scientists, agency officials, and industry about the best ways to set up the tests, the program has yet to evaluate a single chemical. And when the agency finally — last year — proposed a draft list of 73 chemicals for the first round of testing, neither BPA nor phthalates were on it. Pesticide chemicals, with a more established history of causing health problems, will be first. In contrast, the European Commission has already begun screening chemicals for possible endocrine effects, and has identified 320 that will be subject to additional, rigorous testing. We shipped several samples of each item off to an independent lab, where they were shredded into bits, then analyzed to see if any detectable amounts of BPA and phthalates were present in the products. The good news: Twenty-seven of the products tested contained no phthalates or BPA. Three, however, did contain low levels of BPA: the containers (or bottom sections) of Rubbermaid Easy Find Lids, Rubbermaid Premier containers, and Glad Storage Zipper Bags; Glad Press'n Seal wrap had low levels of both phthalates and BPA. Next, the lab tested these four items with "food simulants" — chemicals designed to stand in for real food in a lab. (Our federal health agencies, like the FDA, allow the use of food simulants in testing.) Results: No detectable BPA or phthalates migrated from the products into the simulants. Or maybe just in the kitchen? The biggest worry has been over BPA and phthalates getting into food and drinks (and into toys small children chew on). Most of us aren't eager to sacrifice the ease and cleanliness of plastic. But we need more definitive answers than the authorities have been giving us. That's why the Good Housekeeping Institute undertook testing of widely available storage containers, bags, wraps, frozen-entrée trays and slow-cooker liners to see if these chemicals were, in fact, migrating into food — a kind of real-world investigation that would help moms decide just how cautious they need to be.

But what scientists like Hunt and Swan and others have come to realize is that chemicals like BPA and phthalates don't play by the rules. Many of their and other studies of endocrine disruptors have found serious health effects at levels as low as 2 micrograms per one kilogram of body weight — that's 25 times lower than the EPA's safe level ."We've been using an oversimplified mode of measurement," says Scott Belcher, Ph.D., associate professor of pharmacology and cell biophysics at the University of Cincinnati.Be extra cautious with infants: If you use commercial formula, buy it in powdered form, which comes in a foil-lined cardboard container and shouldn't have any BPA, says the FDA.

The following items contained low levels of phthalates or PBA but the chemicals did not leach into food during microwave heating:This new understanding turns the "dose makes the poison" logic on its head, suggesting that even tiny levels can cause damage if exposure happens at a particularly sensitive time during development, such as when a fetus's brain or sex organs are forming in the womb. "There are critical windows of vulnerability," says Maida Galvez, M.D., a pediatrician with the Mount Sinai Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Unit in New York City. "It can be a question of when in addition to how much." Or, as some scientists now put it, "the timing makes the poison," says Andrea Gore, Ph.D., who studies hormone disruptors at the University of Texas at Austin.

In a lengthy review article, published in 2007, researchers reported that low doses of BPA during development affect brain structure, function, and behavior in rats and mice. If the Chemicals Are So Risky, Why Do We Use Them?But our highest exposure comes from our daily diet, reports the National Toxicology Program. Molecules of BPA can migrate from containers into food, especially, say experts, when the containers are heated and the foods are acidic (like tomatoes) or fatty (like gravy). That's why GH Institute used those two food types for its tests — plus, these items are commonly heated in a microwave. Just as a mom might prepare her family's dinner in her kitchen, GHRI scientists, working with chemists at an independent lab, heated samples of Old World Style Ragú Traditional Smooth Pasta Sauce and Heinz Home Style Gravy Savory Beef in the microwave in two different widely available storage containers and in glass bowls covered with a commonly used plastic wrap. Regarding storage, both Glad Press and Seal and Cling Wrap offer compact and space-saving solutions. Both wraps are typically sold in rolls that can be easily stored in kitchen drawers or cabinets. However, Glad Press and Seal has an advantage in terms of its ability to conform to various shapes and sizes. Its flexible nature allows it to be tightly wrapped around the items, minimizing the need for additional storage space. Cling Wrap, although it can also conform to certain shapes, may not be as versatile in terms of its storage capabilities. For efficient use of space, Glad Press and Seal is the more convenient option. Organization Clearly good news: None of the samples of sauce or gravy had detectable levels of either BPA or phthalates. Products tested that contained no phthalates or BPA: Both Glad Press and Seal and Cling Wrap offer various purposes for consumers. Glad Press and Seal is ideal for not only wrapping food items but also for covering bowls, dishes, and even non-food items such as cosmetics or craft supplies. Its versatility makes it a multi-functional tool in the kitchen and beyond. Cling Wrap, although primarily used for food preservation, can also be utilized for gift wrapping, organizing small items, and temporary repairs. However, Glad Press and Seal’s wider range of purposes gives it an edge in terms of versatility. Compatibility