Plastic Bottle Chemical May Be Harmful -US Agency

[Purveyor]

Source: Reuters

Apr 15, 2008 16:31 EST

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A chemical in some plastic food and drink packaging including baby bottles may be tied to early puberty and prostate and breast cancer, the U.S. government said Tuesday.

Based on draft findings by the National Toxicology Program, part of the U.S. National Institutes of Health, senior congressional Democrats asked the Food and Drug Administration to reconsider its view that the chemical bisphenol A is safe in products for use by infants and children.

The chemical, also called BPA, is used in many baby bottles and the plastic lining of cans of infant formula.

The National Toxicology Program went further than previous U.S. government statements on possible health risks from BPA.

It said: "There is some concern for neural and behavioral effects in fetuses, infants and children at current human exposures." The findings expressed concern about exposure in these populations, "based on effects in the prostate gland, mammary gland, and an earlier age for puberty in females."

--
In Canada, the Globe and Mail newspaper said the Canadian health ministry was ready to declare BPA a dangerous substance, making it the first regulatory body in the world to reach such a determination. The newspaper said the ministry could announce the decision as soon as Wednesday

Read more: http://wiredispatch.com/news/?id=129388

[maddezmom]

1. kick

People have been talking about this for a while. As a mom with a son with autism, I've oftened wonder if there is a connection.

[nolabels]

56. The "(Reuters)" article is a watered down version, try this one maybe

Also you might notice the publishing date(s) and how we are being news managed with this whole thing


Published: 03.18.2007


By Susanne Rust
MCCLATCHY TRIBUNE
SAFETY TIPS Polycarbonates can be identified by the recycling No. 7, which often appears with arrows in the shape of a triangle on the bottom of containers. Bottles that show wear, are cracked, or are cloudy should be discarded. Exposing these products to high temperatures should be avoided.

Although its name may not be familiar, bisphenol-A is everywhere. It's in the lining of your soup can, the clear plastic of your baby's bottle and the sealants covering your teeth.

But it might be harmful to your health.
An expert panel of endocrinologists, statisticians and biologists was called together last week by a federal agency to review a report on this ubiquitous chemical. The final review, which was supposed to be announced earlier this month, was postponed.


For several years, scientists have been concerned about bisphenol-A. Hundreds of papers have shown that it can be toxic in extremely low doses.

Traces of bisphenol-A have been found in nearly every American tested for it. The chemical mimics estrogen and binds to estrogen receptors on cells. In more than 100 experiments conducted on lab animals, it has been shown to cause genetic changes leading to prostate cancer, as well as decreased testosterone, low sperm counts and signs of early female puberty.

Work also has been done on human tissue, with results showing that exposure can cause changes in prostate and breast tissue.
The National Institutes of Health's Center for the Evaluation of Risks to Human Reproduction, which was charged with drafting the report, may be compromised, critics say. The environmental organization Environmental Working Group has evidence showing that a private consulting firm with close ties to the chemical industry did much of the work on this report, as well as for the center itself.

The firm, Sciences International, has had clients including BASF and Dow Chemical — companies that manufacture bisphenol-A — as well as DuPont, Chevron, Exxon Mobil, 3M, Union Carbide, the American Petroleum Institute and the American Chemistry Council.
Since allegations were made public earlier this month, Sciences International has been removed from the review. But questions remain about its role within the federal center and in the report it compiled for the expert panel's review.
(snip)
http://www.dirtdoctor.com/forum/archive.php/o_t/t_7679/common-chemical-in-hard-plastics-may-be-hazardous-to-health.html

[Arctic Dave]

2. One of the most telling things I've ever heard about

plastics came from a guy I had a class with in Texas. He worked for one Chevron plastic companies in Texas and he told me "working there was like working in an controlled toxic waste dump". I've never looked at plastic the same way since.

[Critters2]

3. I just mentioned this to a pregnant friend of mine, who constantly carries around

a Nalgene Lexan bottle. Lexan is the plastic most likely to leach BPA and it bothers me that she uses it so much. She said "I've been drinking out of it for years, and it hasn't done any harm yet." I'm thinking of giving her a LDPE or HDPE water bottle as a gift.

[ret5hd]

4. Or stainless steel.

[AllyCat]

25. Love stainless! Keeps drinks hot/cold longer! no plastic needed.

[smiley_glad_hands]

5. I highly reccomend these bottles and they are cheap compared to other anti colic bottles.

http://www.amazon.com/Sassy-Babys-Mam-pack-Bottle/dp/B000C4OPJQ/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/104-9437956-3942340?ie=UTF8&s=baby-products&qid=1192980446&sr=1-1

We have those and the next size up.

They are BPA free.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

7. I highly recomend glass bottles

[smiley_glad_hands]

8. Not for breastmilk. eom

[awoke_in_2003]

11. Educate me, please.

Why not glass for breastmilk?

[smiley_glad_hands]

14. Macrophages adhere to glass.

They are a key component to the communication of the mother's immune system. They basically eat bacteria.

[awoke_in_2003]

33. Cool, thanks. nt

[OKthatsIT]

50. The Clinton WTO is forcing US into CODEX ALIMINTARIUS Laws

Remember the WTO? The UNRATIFIED WTO.

Well, CODEX laws will override all US Laws regarding Pharma, Food & Supplements. Our country will cease to have control over all food toxins and all methods of healing ourselves. The importency of the FDA is because it isn't governed by US anymore. The WTO is worldwide corporate rule.

And you think Hillary is going to change that policy?

The Clinton's know there is a DEPOPULATION AGENDA. Now, you can inore this and find out about this later, when all the politicians pretend to amend it and come up with nothing new OR you can get busy and alert America of the crisis before Decemeber 2009 when the USA must permenently sign on to the UN/EU/WTO/BANKER laws.

You know...we wouldnt be going through all this crap had we just investigated 9/11 thoroughly. It's all there.



VIDEO: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=451097355502728465&q=Codex+Alimentarius&total=57&start=0&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=2

VIDEO: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-5266884912495233634

[smiley_glad_hands]

58. Save it for GDP. eom

[Lorien]

36. How about Sigg bottles?

http://www.mysigg.com/

[smiley_glad_hands]

57. I really don't know.

My wife and I only researched baby bottles for our 4 month old. Not all plastics have BPA's. Most clear plastics have BPAs. HDPE & LDPE are ok i think. Try googling it, thats how we got all of our info. Most baby bottles will tell you if they are free of BPAs, btw.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

6. This makes me furious!!! Why does american corpration hate our children?!?!

[bluesmail]

9. Where's the FDA? Or FAA? Or EPA? SEC?

recommended Highly

[davidinalameda]

12. my money is on SOL in regards to these cases

and of course the plastic industry's favorite one

CYA

[slipslidingaway]

10. Trolling for plastic in this video...

http://www.vbs.tv/video.php?id=1485308505

Posted here
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=103x352745

[Subdivisions]

32. Excellent link!!! Thank you! n/t

[slipslidingaway]

45. YW, this is the same chemical mentioned in the OP, parts 1 & 6

of the video speaks to the problems of bisphenol A in the ocean water.

And thanks to DUer "oldgrowth" for posting the video here

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=103x352745

[Lorien]

43. Thanks! Bookmarked. I'm going to be passing this along

especially to the owners of a busy retail store that I know. They've been flirting with the idea of no longer carrying disposable plastic bags, and hopefully this will cinch it for them.

[slipslidingaway]

46. Great ! See also...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9N9uCI2dgs

[Lorien]

51. You know, I was debating about investing in more Sigg bottles

but they are so expensive. Now after seeing this I think I'll go for it and try to eliminate plastic bottles from my fridge. Instead of buying sports drinks for the gym, I can get packages of electrolyte mix and put them in a Sigg or two. I've already done away with disposable shopping bags by taking my own everywhere, now it's time to tackle the plastic bottle issue!

[slipslidingaway]

55. Sounds good, we can do more in our household...

and will look at the recommendations mentioned here.

http://www.kleankanteen.com/

http://www.mysigg.com/

[derby378]

13. And that, ladies and gentlemen, is one reason why I now own a Sigg bottle

Trivia note: Remember diva Plavalaguna's mojor domo in that movie The Fifth Element, opening some sort of bottle before the Mangalore troops turned him into a greasy spot on the carpet? That was also a Sigg bottle. Boo-yah.

[Kittycat]

16. Yep... We use Kleen Kanteen here.

I bought DH one for one of his stocking gifts this year, and the one I just ordered via a co-op just came in. I cannot wait!

[derby378]

17. Good on ya!

:hi:

[populistdriven]

19. i have a 40oz, rinse in vinegar once per week and it stays perfect

[Kittycat]

15. *****Here are some alternatives.****

Bottles & Tippies
Glass of course
Medela
Born Free
Green to Grow
Think Baby (bottles & sport bottles/junior sport sippies)
Nuby
Kleen Kanteen (stainless sippie cups)
Dr. Browns (Coming this summer)

Other BPA Free Feeding Items
Boon: feeding accessories (bowls, plates, spoons/forks, sippies, snack ball)
Crocodile Creek: Bibs, placemats, insulated lunch packs


That's just a few. Having little ones (and a green children's store), I've done a bit of research on it. Fortunately - many of these brands are now available locally. If you have trouble that route - always remember to support smaller online businesses/mom and pop shops.

[kestrel91316]

18. I'm glad I'm a grownup and don't need to carry a plastic bottle

around with me everywhere I go like some baby.

Oh, dear. I didn't just say that, did I?? Better get out my flameproof white doctor jacket.

But seriously, endocrine disrupters in all manner of plastics are gonna turn out to be the DDT of our species if we aren't careful. Theo Colborn warned about this a decade ago in Our Stolen Future.

Endocrine disrupters in plastic cat food can liners, along with flame retardants in furniture, are thought to be behind the skyrocketing incidence of feline hyperthyroidism in the past 25 years. Maybe they have something to do with our VERY WEIRD morbidly obese kitties and the diabetics, also.

My next furious ranting crusade is gonna be against those frickin' PLASTICS. In the book Garbageland plastics are referred to as The Devil's Resin. How very apt.

[sce56]

20. IOnly found a blank page at the link so here is direct from the Reuters story

http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSN1513929320080415?feedType=RSS&feedName=healthNews&sp=true

The American Chemistry Council industry group(Council underwritten by the plastics companies) said the conclusions confirmed that human exposure to bisphenol A is extremely low and noted no direct evidence that exposure adversely affects reproduction or development in humans.

In Canada, the Globe and Mail newspaper said the Canadian health ministry was ready to declare BPA a dangerous substance, making it the first regulatory body in the world to reach such a determination. The newspaper said the ministry could announce the decision as soon as Wednesday.

Environmental activists long have warned about health concerns regarding the chemical. They praised the draft findings of the National Toxicology Program, which cited more potential worries about the chemical than did a panel of experts that advised the program last year.

"NTP's decision corrects the scientific record. It reflects a significant body of science showing that BPA may play a larger role than previously thought in a host of common health problems," Anila Jacob of the Environmental Working Group said in a statement.

[Not Sure]

21. I realized this was a problem many years ago

while drinking from a plastic bottle while I was on acid.

There goes any credibility I had, but it's the truth!

[Delphinus]

49. What other insights

did you glean? I think acid can be a mind-expander, so you've not lost any credibility with me. :)

[Not Sure]

60. Let's see...

The first thing that caught my attention was that I had lived in Fort Worth, Texas nearly my whole life and realized I was no more than a tourist in my own town. So the experience spawned an interest in the history of the people who had inhabited the city from its beginnings and time before that. I think I was able to feel at home and find out that happiness was a state of mind, not an elusive, far away destination, and that making it occur in the present is one's own duty.

The "theme" of the experience, if you know what I mean, was the word "create." Pondering its meaning, origin, relevance and my close friends' and my own lack of it through our sheer laziness and reliance on drugs such as cannabis, alcohol and tobacco led all of us to go from indulgence to moderation and cessation in order to foster clean, pure creativity. Not that "dropping into" the system is a measure of success for any of us, but we've all found ways to participate in the system to break it in some way while still earning a living. I think this was one of the most important lessons of the experience.

On a lesser note, eating a hamburger without being conscious of the source of the food ended that day, in addition to the ease of that experience. Drinking from the ubiquitous plastic bottle, the safety rings and caps of which litter every street in my town, became a last resort for water on that day. I work with plastics in my hobbies, constructing miniatures, so I am well aware of the chemical compounds these plastics are made from. I could almost feel them leeching from the plastic into my skin, mouth and intestines that day. Nevermind the film of filth that coats the bottles from the hours, days, weeks of transport from plant to warehouse to placement/storage in retail shops touching my skin and lips. Plastic chairs, dashboards, soda cups, plates, forks, cookware coatings, etc. surround us and supposedly make things easier. I was reminded of that Dead Kennedys album, "Give Me Convenience Or Give Me Death."

My friends and I also played catch that day in a park I had played little league football and baseball in as a child. My disdain for professional sports melted away and the joy of a good catch was all that was happening that hour. All of us were pretty much stoners with good jobs, so we'd long since dropped out of an interest in sports. But it came back in a moment and it was pure fun.

Being in that park also brought back memories of being molested as a child, which was pretty unpleasant, but being told and actually hearing that it wasn't my fault helped me begin the process of forgiving myself and participating in relationships with women.

And of course, what Bill Hicks said:

"Today a young man on acid realized that all matter is merely energy condensed into a slow vibration, there is no such thing as death and we're the imagination of ourselves." (I probably butchered the quote, but something like that).

So I agree, it is a mind-expander. And that single experience did more to get me off of laziness, drugs, booze and my couch and participate in this life to pursue happiness than anything else I've ever done.

Sorry to hijack the thread for this tangent...

[defendandprotect]

22. PLASTIC may soon be a dirty word . . . Poland Spring has changed their bottles . . .

I don't know what prompted it and I don't know what kind they are now, BUT I had given up water in plastic bottles about six months ago and then about a month ago our water went really foul here in my town -- and there's still a lot of chlorine in it. I had to throw away a new Brita filter and get some bottled water again!

It's still not great but I'm back to the Brita.
And -- basically, the Brita container --- a large one --- is hard plastic!!

One of the worst stories I heard about plastic was re those plastic bags that they use in hospitals
-- evidently they were using them in a research program and noted that the plastic was leeching into
the blood tests they were doing!!!

Remember the movie "The Graduate" when PLASTIC was the magic word --- !!!

Looks like it's one of those words that's killing us . . .

[SharonRB]

23. ROFL

:rofl: You took the words right out of my mouth. I was just going to type: "I have one word for you. PLASTICS!"

[Donnachaidh]

30. We have a PUR filter on our kitchen tap

And I don't care if we have to change it monthly - it's staying there now!

[Lorien]

44. Me too. I like the Pur filtered water better than the more popular

bottled waters anyway.

[whistle]

24. Are they blaming China/India for this one as well or can we credit

...good old fashion American greed for this one as in Dupont, Dow and Monsanto?

[JeanGrey]

26. I always used my boobs. They aren't lined with chemicals.

[AllyCat]

27. Me too! unfortunately, there's a bunch of chemicals in breastmilk now too

thanks to the poisoning of our environment. However, breastmilk is still better for infants and toddlers than formula. WHO recommends women everywhere nurse their children until two years of age. Most American mothers have given up breastfeeding by the time they return to work. All those kids on formula that don't need to be...

[JeanGrey]

28. I nursed my child even after I returned to work, I simply put him

in a daycare down the street, nursed in the morning, at lunch, and as soon as I picked him up. I usually used glass bottles if I were giving him water but most of the time, he didn't have a bottle at all just graduated to a cup.

Breast is best. You have to watch what you put in your body. No smoking, drinking, drugs, etc and eating healthy.

[Heywood J]

59. Living in North America,

I don't think that's true for anybody anymore, sadly.

[Donnachaidh]

29. All those *Imagine your world without Plastics* Ads - Kind of Ironic, dontcha think?

Yeah -- no early puberty, no prostate cancer, no breast cancer, etc. :sarcasm:

[L0oniX]

31. Add to aspartame and splenda/sucralose, chemicals of death approved by the FDA.

[Lorien]

53. Isn't that the truth! Once I got off aspartame my worst fibromyalgia

symptoms disappeared. But much later I had a friend who gave me baked goods over the holidays that always left me with blinding headaches and body aches...I thought that I was just catching short lived flus from holiday tourists, but it turned out that she had baked everything using Splenda, and that's what caused the weird flu symptoms. Just to be sure I drank a Jones soda sweetened with Splenda and, sure enough, same symptoms. It really worries me to think of the long term effects of some of the crap that the FDA is approving.

[eppur_se_muova]

34. Older article from Science News ...

data are from mice ...

http://www.sciencenews.org/articles/20070811/fob3.asp


Also (indirectly from E Magazine) ...

* Environmental estrogens/endocrine disrupters. According to World Wildlife Fund scientist Theo Colborn, any substance that might act like hormones can influence the immune system. Bisphenol A (BPA) is one such chemical. It's in everything from computers to polycarbonate baby bottles. Past studies showed BPA scientists say it also may activate autoimmune responses.

Early evidence comes from a series of Japanese animal studies, in which lab mice with a genetic tendency to get lupus developed telltale signs of the disease when exposed to BPA. Meanwhile, Ansar Ahmed, a Virginia Tech immunologist, found prenatal exposure to the drug DES (another estrogen-like chemical) caused mice to develop lupus symptoms When Kansas endocrinologist Virginia Rider exposed immune cells of human lupus patients to estrogen, the disease activity increased.

http://www.organicconsumers.org/foodsafety/immune050905.cfm

[Alcibiades]

35. And it can mess up your son's penis

By making it smaller, making the prostate bigger, and by doing a host of things that can be categorized as "abnormal morphology." With the great irrational terror males in this culture have of castration (irrational because it's very unlikely, not because it wouldn't be a very bad thing to have happen to oneself), it is really screwy that this very real threat to our sons' penises has not caused rioting in the streets.

[CHIMO]

37. Canada first to label bisphenol A as officially dangerous

Source: Globe and Mail

Health Canada is calling bisphenol A a dangerous substance, making it the first regulatory body in the world to reach such a determination and taking the initial step toward measures to control exposures to it.

Although the government won't announce specific bans or restrictions, the designation as dangerous could pave the way for the hormonally active chemical to be listed as toxic under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, which would allow Health Minister Tony Clement to issue specific measures to curb its use.

Bisphenol A, or BPA, is one of the most widely used synthetic chemicals in modern industry. It is the basic building block for polycarbonate, the see-through, shatter-proof plastic that resembles glass, and is also used to make the epoxy resins lining the insides of most tin cans, along with some dental sealants, sports helmets, and compact discs.

Experts are worried about BPA in food and beverage containers. Products such as CDs aren't considered a problem.



Read more: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080415.wtoxic15/BNStory/National/home

[Morereason]

38. America used to be the leader in protecting it's people.

[CHIMO]

39. No Doubt

That Canada is jumping the gun. They probably know what is coming down the chute. In fact they may be testing the market.

[baldguy]

41. Oh, that's so precious!

America has a govt of the corporations, by the corporations & for the corporations.

[Canuckistanian]

40. One major sporting retailer here in Canada has already stopped selling it

Mountain Equipment Co-op. A GREAT progressive company.

http://www.mec.ca/Main/content_text.jsp?CONTENT%3C%3Ecnt_id=10134198674101533&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302881801&bmUID=1208313589436

[Muttocracy]

42. I think we're going to be hearing a lot more about this soon

NYTimes - http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/05/business/smallbusiness/05shortcuts.html?pagewanted=all

Newsweek - http://www.newsweek.com/id/105588

Green Guide - http://www.thegreenguide.com/doc/101/plastic

[dipsydoodle]

47. Wall Street Journal link

Plastics Chemical Spurs Concern

WASHINGTON -- A new draft report by the government links a chemical used in such common products as plastic baby bottles to potential long-term risks of breast and prostate cancer.

That assessment, which differs from the government's previous position, has prompted Congress to ask the Food and Drug Administration to reconsider whether the chemical, bisphenol A, or BPA, is safe.

So far, neither Congress nor the FDA have moved to ban BPA, which is used in hundred of products ranging from eyeglass lenses to plastic food containers to soda cans. The chemical industry has said repeatedly that low-level exposure to BPA is safe.

But the new report by the National Toxicology Center, part of the National Institutes of Health, says even low levels of exposure by infants can cause changes in their prostate and mammary gland tissue, which could ultimately lead to cancer. (See full report.)

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120827794501716613.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

[catgirl]

48. K & R

[Javaman]

52. Files this under, "no duh". nt

[Supersedeas]

54. plastics really become a thing to be wary of when combined with a microwave