Everyday plastic products cause brain and reproductive damage

[Ah Xoc Kin]

Oct. 3, 2008
Six Environmental Research Studies Reveal Critical Health Risks From Plastic

Exposure to Bisphenol A (BPA), phthalates and flame retardants (PBDEs) are strongly associated with adverse health effects on humans and laboratory animals. A special section in the October 2008 issue of Environmental Research -- "A Plastic World" -- provides critical new research on environmental contaminants and adverse reproductive and behavioral effects.

Plastic products contain "endocrine disrupting chemicals" that can block the production of the male sex hormone testosterone (phthalates used in PVC plastic), mimic the action of the sex hormone estrogen (bisphenol A or BPA used in polycarbonate plastic), and interfere with thyroid hormone (brominated flame retardants or PBDEs used in many types of plastic).

"For the first time a series of articles will appear together that identify that billions of kilograms of a number of chemicals used in the manufacture of different types of plastic can leach out of plastic products and cause harm to the brain and reproductive system when exposure occurs during fetal life or prior to weaning," emphasized Dr. Frederick vom Saal, Guest Editor of the "Plastic World".

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/10/081002172257.htm

I wonder about all those baby bottles....

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[aquart]

1. Don't . We just voted for the bailout bill.

[zbdent]

2. Baby bottles in plastic, beer bottles in glass ...

go figure ...

[Duppers]

5. Glass bottles break

My sister, as a toddler, drop her glass bottle when she fell. She carries the scares on her fact to this day.

So there's another safety issue.

[TreasonousBastard]

6. That was my first thought, but...

even though plastic replaced glass as a safety issue, there must be a way to make a nonbreakable, nonpoisonous baby bottle, even if it costs a nickel more.

We've got to get over this obsession with the cheapest price.

[Duppers]

8. I agree. nt.

nt

[zbdent]

7. and yet, I keep getting the "in my childhood, we rode bicycles without helmets,

rode in the backs of pickup trucks, held our babies in our laps in the front seats without seat belts," etc. etc. etc. " and it's amazing I survived" e-mails ... hinting that we're overprotective these days ...

Of course, that is discounting the fact that plenty of kids/etc. were permanently injured or killed by the very same acts ...

Not to demean your sister's accident, but I just find it an interesting thing ...

[Duppers]

9. no offense taken

The most frightening thing of such an accident, as my sister's, is that broken glass could have penetrated her eye(s).

[kestrel91316]

3. Theo Colborn wrote about this problem years ago in her landmark book

"Our Stolen Future".

Time to get rid of plastics in our kitchens, people. You don't need any laws to do this. Get proactive and do it yourselves. Don't wait for government to act, because they won't.

[Indenturedebtor]

4. Yes and as I understand it, it's even worse when you microwave/heat plastic

Corningware is your friend. That stuff is pretty cheap too.