With Thanksgiving approaching, the American Nurses Association has joined with the Breast Cancer Fund to warn consumers about the potential dangers of Bisphenol A in food and provide information about alternatives.

BPA, a chemical used in the lining of metal food cans, can leach into food and be ingested. Many studies have linked BPA exposure to cancer, obesity and behavioral disorders, according to the ANA.

The Breast Cancer Fund recently tested canned food items typically used in a traditional Thanksgiving meal to assess the potential exposure to BPA. According to an ANA news release, the results showed that a single meal "may contain a significant amount of BPA."

The ANA said it has long urged the use of safer alternatives to BPA, including in 2008 testimony to the Food and Drug Administration. It has joined with other consumer and healthcare groups to work toward banning poisonous additives in food and beverage containers.

The ANA noted that RNs have a crucial role in assessing and address environmental health issues and their impact on the public's health. To download a PDF of the Breast Cancer Fund's study, including alternatives to canned food, visit http://bit.ly/vwE4xA.