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The estrogenic chemical bisphenol-A (BPA) has been villified in recent years for its ubiquitous presence in numerous consumer products.
But even plastic-containing products claiming to be BPA-free can still leach chemicals with estrogenic activity (EA), according to a new study published in the Environmental Health Perspectives Journal. The leaching can get worse during regular types of use, such as microwaving or dishwashing.
Researchers at Georgetown University, PlastiPure, a Texas-based plastic maker, and CertiChem, a chemical testing firm, purchased 455 plastic products from stores such as Whole Foods, Walmart and Trader Joe's made to contain food, including baby bottles, water bottles, bags and deli containers. The resin type varied, but nearly all tested positive for the leaching of chemicals with detectable levels of EA.
Studies suggest exposure to EA can change the structure of many types of human cells, raising concern about adverse impacts on infants and children, including birth defects and behavioral disorders.
However, researchers contend EA-free plastic can be commercially produced at a cost in line with conventional plastic.
"Many scientists believe that it is not appropriate to bet our health and that of future generations on an assumption that known cellular effects of chemicals having EA released from most plastics will have no severe adverse health effects," researchers wrote. "Since we can identify existing, relatively-inexpensive monomers and additives that do not exhibit estrogenic activity, even when stressed, we believe that plastics having comparable physical properties but that do not release chemicals having detectable EA could be produced at minimal additional cost."
Image CC licensed by Flickr user nerissa's ring.
From a medical position, we
From a medical position, we have an increase in estrogen like responses in our children as well as obesity that cannot be explained. The increase in estrogen like activity from plastics should be highly suspect and not taken lightly. As a physician, I am concerned with all such activities. We are bombarded with estrogen like chemicals from all sorts of plastics as well as tubing. When we cannot find other causes for the medical problems we are seeing in children and adults, our environment and all exposures becomes suspect.
To "Smarter Than You": If you
To "Smarter Than You":
If you are so smart, you realize that:
First, not all estrogens are the same- they are a class of organic chemical, and not all act the same way in vivo. Note the article says "chemicals with estrogenic activity" and do not refer to a specific one. This is similar to the idea that all alcohols are not the same. If you think otherwise, the next time you want a buzz, try drinking some methanol instead of ethanol.
Second, consuming excessive amounts of any chemical may have far different effects than smaller amounts. Any amounts of naturally occurring EAs consumed in most foods are relatively low. (I would like to see any figures you have to the contrary.) Even if the EAs found in plastics are the same as the natural ones, plastics add much more, especially when you consider the cumulative effects of all of the different plastics our foods are exposed to. To say otherwise is the same as saying that almonds contain cyanide, and almonds consumed in reasonable amounts are safe and possibly beneficial to eat, so it is OK to eat larger amounts of cyanide.
My question becomes not are you "Smarter than you", but, "Are You Smarter Than A Fifth Grader?
I'm not a scientist "Smarter
I'm not a scientist "Smarter than you" but you've probably done your homework right? And that's why you feel reassured that consuming EA from plastics, is as wholesome as eating natural foods, right? In that case your name describes you appropriately.
This article raises a valid
This article raises a valid concern for the safety of these things. I just finished watching the new "Bag It" movie (bagitmovie.com) about plastics in our world and all that that means. A lot of information about BPA's, etc. Highly recommended.
I would hope that anyone
I would hope that anyone writing a basic science article would stick to science and leave the "scare" topics as an aside. What this author like most fails to note is that our bodies are chemical processing machines. We convert food, water, medicines, and other items.....note these are all chemicals...hydrogen, carbon, estrogens, into the building blocks of what we need to survive. These EA items are natural...and the levels you get from almonds, soy, and other food stuffs outweigh any amount found in a plastic container.