BPA, Bispehenol-A, is found in so many everyday objects, but is it considered bad for the human body? BPA is an epoxy resin and found on in the inside of many metal cans. It is also found in many other things such as plastic water bottles, throw away food containers, baby bottles, dental fillings, shower curtains, and many other things (Vandenburg, et. al., 2008). BPA is also considered the most abundant chemical in the world (Vandenburg, et. al., 2008). BPA, the endocrine disruptor, is considered to be so dangerous because it is unstable under ultraviolet light and raised temperatures (Breast Cancer UK). Then in most cases the chemical leeches onto the food and the infected food is then consumed and enters the body.
BPA is considered a dangerous toxin in so many homes and to so many people, but it has yet to be banned by the FDA or any other national administrations. Dr. Gray expressed in an interview with Jon Entine (3) for Forbes magazine, "There are people who believe in the low dose effect of BPA and will always believe its disruptive effect, regardless of the evidence; The ‘BPA-is-harmful’ crowd appears impervious to peer reviewed studies, that’s a religious position. But as scientists and regulators, we have to go where the data takes us." In a recent statement another prominent scientist expressed, “At this point, with all the recent studies in hand, calling BPA harmful and dangerous, that’s just mass hysteria” (Entine, 3). In the end is BPA actually a dangerous toxin?
BPA is considered an endocrine disruptor. This chemical has the ability to replicate the natural estrogen in the body. As BPA replicates the natural estrogen BPA moves through the body acting like the natural estrogen. Then the replicated estrogen has the ...
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...orphology and gene expression signature. Society of Endocrinology. 196. 101-112. Retrieved from http://joe.endocrinology-journals.org/content/196/1/101.full
Sigma-Aldrich. (n.d.). Bisphenol-A [Material Safety Data Sheet]. Retrieved from http://www.sigmaaldrich.com/MSDS/MSDS/PleaseWaitMSDSPage.do?language=&country=US&brand=ALDRICH&productNumber=239658&PageToGoToURL=http://www.sigmaaldrich.com/catalog/product/aldrich/239658?lang=en®ion=US
Szabo, L. (2013, October 10). Doctors sound alarm about prenatal health concerns. Retrieved from http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/10/08/bpa-and-breast-cancer/2834461/
Vandenburg, L., Maffini, M. et. Al. (2008, December 12). Bisphenol-A and the great divide: A review of controversies in the field of endocrine disruption. Endocrine Reviews. 30 (1). 75-95 Retrieved from http://edrv.endojournals.org/content/30/1/75.full
...crine disruptors, to alter fetal and childhood development.” According to the OCA, formal studies have never been performed to check if residues from these hormones have any consequences in depleting human population. It can be inferred that the fetus could be susceptible to the sex steroids causing post-natal hindrances that become visible later in the humans life. These problematic health issues may present themselves at any time in the span of a humans life. One instance of a noticeable problem is females that encounter puberty prematurely are at a higher risk to develop breast cancer later in life. Men can undergo tribulations just as well as women in that they may be at risk to become fertile. Besides the negative effects on humans, some cattle become lame after receiving the drug. This factor caused Tyson foods to stop buying cattle that had been administered
Of?"http://www.siumed.edu/medhum/electives/HealthPolicyMedia/wk5Stock.pdf 22.11 (2003). Rpt. in Designer Babies. Ed. Clayton Farris Naff. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2013. At Issue. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 2 May 2014.
“High levels of hormones can cause problems in the human body, but can hormones we ingest really alter our hormone level...
When these “messages in bottles'; reach their appointed destination, the binding into the receptor site causes a cascade of reactions to occur. It is these reactions that are vital in maintaining our homeostasis. Many times the binding of the receptor site causes a direct expression of a certain gene. This is where endocrine disrupters can exert major damage. In addition to gene expression, endocrine disrupters cause havoc in many other areas of the body. What exactly are endocrine disrupting chemicals?
Thadani, Rahul. "The Public Should Oppose Designer Baby Technology." Designer Babies. Ed. Clayton Farris Naff. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2013. At Issue. Rpt. from "Designer Babies Debate." http://www.buzzle.com. 2011. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 28 Apr. 2014.
Imagine being in a family that is expecting their first child. Articles in the newspaper are showing how the chances of miscarriages are increasing. As soon as anxiety starts to take over, a flip of a page in the newspaper changes everything. An article about a new drug called Diethylstilbestrol seems to be on the next page. Diethylstilbestrol, also known as DES, is a medicine that helps prevent women from having pregnancy complications including miscarriages. “This is amazing!” one may say, but do they really know the consequences of taking this new medication? Diethylstilbestrol was a huge turning point for most pregnant women in the early twentieth century; however, it had many underlying negative consequences that would later affect the mother and child with the word no one ever wants to hear; cancer.
Humans are among the many terrestrial mammals affected by the endocrine-disrupting capabilities of bisphenol A. The majority of human exposure comes from consumption of BPA from food products packaged in polycarbonate plastics (Crain et al., 2007). Laboratory studies done on mice indicate that exposure to high concentrations of BPA can cause pregnancy complications, reproductive organ defects, obesity, early puberty, and cancer (reviewed by Flint et al., 2012).
During recent years, numerous newspaper and magazine articles have suggested that humans may be at risk because small amounts of well known environmental contaminants, such as dioxin, PCBs and DDT, can affect hormone levels. Hormones are produced by the endocrine system as regulators of biological function in target organs. Because hormones play a critical role in early development, toxicological effects on the endocrine system often have an impact on the reproductive system. The term endocrine disruptor is used to describe chemicals that can mimic hormones and may either enhance or counteract their effects. It has been suggested that these hormone changes can, in turn, lead to a variety of health problems including cancer, decreased fertility, and abnormalities in newborns.
There is also debate on how much better biodegradable plastics are in the first place. This is because as biodegradable plastics break down, they break up into smaller and smaller pieces, but never quite disappear. This leaves the potential that the plastic would continue entering the food chain. But although biodegradable plastics aren’t perfect, they are still much safer than standard plastic and present a much lower risk. In addition, by making the shift to ban single use plastics, research towards better plastic alternatives will speed up and better solutions will become available. Over time, these new alternatives to plastics may spread to other items that aren’t single use, making an even greater impact on the health of humans and the
Researchers have stated that plastic bottles containing water can contain many deadly chemicals. After close examination of the plastic, researchers concluded that some plastics contain chemicals, like phthalates, bisphenol A (BPA), endocrine disrupters, and cancer, may percolate into the water, especially after being stagnant for long periods of time. Likewise, bottled water is not exposed to the rigorous testing tap water endures. Thus, bottled water is more inclined to be contaminated or a source of infection. Tap water is subjected to daily safety testing, bottled water, however, is only tested monthly at the source; twenty-two percent of the water tested contained contaminant levels that exceeded strict health limits. Safety of the people could be secured through banning water bottles.
Many chemicals are used in packaging, storage, and processing of foodstuffs. These chemicals might have a long term effects on the human body. Most of these chemicals are inert and would lead to long term effects.
Some examples of harmful toxins with difficult names include diethanolamine (DEA), formaldehyde, glucocorticoids, and triethanolamine (TEA). We are exposed to toxic chemicals in many ways. We may breathe them in as sprays and powders, swallow chemicals on our lips and, even rub them on our skin. According to a team of researchers who conducted a study on the relationship between exposure to phthalates and DNA damage on human sperm, “cosmetics frequently contain enhancers that allow ingredients to penetrate deeper into the skin. Studies have found health problems in people exposed to common fragrance and sunscreen ingredients, including increased risk of sperm damage, feminization of the male reproductive system and low birth weight in girls” (Duty et al. 1164). There should be regulations banning toxic chemicals from personal care and beauty products because toxins are bad for our health (1), the consumer faith in cosmetic companies are suffering (2), and other countries recognized the effects and banned it while America has not
Most people fear that BPA will have negative effects on their health, such as reproductive issues and cancer.... ... middle of paper ... ...2014. The 'Standard' of the 'Standard'. http://www.onlineeducation.net/bottled_water/water_full.jpg>.
Various medical journals, research papers, and critics have pushed to ensure that people aren’t exposed to these harmful chemicals, by increasing overall public awareness. Currently, there is a steadily growing stigma against plastics, resulting in many people opting to use safer alternatives to plastics for utensils and liquid containers (glass and metal water bottles over plastic). If asked, almost any person would say no to the question of, “Would you be ok with plastics in the drinking water, or in your food?” However, most people don’t realize that the careless disposal of plastics in waterways and oceans results in the creation of microplastics, which fish and other wildlife consume. Microplastics are mainly formed in the “Great Pacific Garbage Patch”: the Pacific Ocean’s currents cause millions of tons of plastics to slowly degrade from the extensive exposure to sunlight and abrasion from water. As a result,