Bisphenol-A: The Facts Part 2
Posted by: adiaha in Pregnancy, Poltical, Family, Off My Chest
The magnitude of this health hazard has suddenly hit me and not only is my head spinning but my entire body feels paralyzed. The puzzle has started to fit together in my head and the picture is none to pretty.
Bisphenol-A was first synthesized in 1891 but it was not until the 1930’s that the estrogenicity of the monomer was first recorded (Dodds and Lawson 1936, 1938). Diethylstilbestrol was found to be a stronger estrogen and interest in Bishenol-A declined until scientist discovered its polymerization abilities with plastics. Bishphenol-A is also a known hormone disruptor or endocrine disruptor. The chemical has been shown to mimic estrogen, a female hormone.
In April 2000, the WWF UK presented a report on the possible environmental effects Bisphenol-A. They cite a growing international concern over man-made endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDC’s) because they can directly affect the development of offspring in the womb. Some of the possible effects listed in this April 2000 report are: “the decline in sperm counts, and the increased rates of hormone related cancers, such as cancers of the breast, testes and prostate. They are also suspected of causing birth defects of the reproductive tract (including un-descended testes), and other hormone related effects, such as earlier puberty
in girls.”
Bisphenol-A is a monomer used in the production of polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins. Polycarbonate plastics are clear nearly shatter proof plastics that have replaced glass in many facets of everyday life world wide. Epoxy resins are used to line the inside of cans the contain baby formula and other food products. Unfortunately, these plastics and resins utilize a chemical bond with a weak link. The polymers created with PBA and polycarbonate plastics and resins are weak and decay over time and when heated. PBA is then released into the substance held in the polycarbonate or PVC plastic, or coated with a epoxy resin.
How much PBA is too much? Here is the crux of the issue which is being so hotly debated. There is so much money at stake here for the plastic industry and major chemical companies world wide. Are these reports a smoking gun with similar ramifications to the tobacco industry? Part 3 tomorrow continues the saga in the meantime, here are some links with more information.
http://www.ewg.org/node/20944?gclid=CIj_zOuLq5MCFQrPGgodRn4zoQ
http://ec.europa.eu/food/fs/sc/scf/out128_en.pdf
http://www.wwf.org.uk/filelibrary/pdf/bpa.pdf
http://www.bisphenol-a.org/index.html
http://www.ada.org/prof/resources/positions/statements/bisphenola.asp
http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=plastic-not-fantastic-with-bisphenol-a
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