(NaturalNews) The controversial chemical bisphenol-A (BPA), already linked to a wide array of health problems, may also increase the risk of asthma in children, according to a study conducted by researchers from the University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston and published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives.
BPA is an industrial chemical widely used in the manufacture of hard, clear plastics like those used in water and baby bottles, as well as in resins used to line cans of food, beverages and infant formula. Exposure has been linked to an increased risk of cancer, heart disease, birth defects, and hormonal and reproductive problems. Its use in products for young children has been banned in a number of countries and in three U.S. states.
After years of insisting that the chemical was safe, the FDA recently changed its position and called for more research.
Researchers fed pregnant mice BPA for a week before they were due to give birth, until the mice had a body burden of BPA equivalent to that regularly found in pregnant U.S. women. They then exposed the pups of these mice to a common allergy inducer, and compared their response to that of mice who had not been exposed to BPA in utero. They found a significantly greater asthma reaction in the BPA-exposed mice.
"All four of our indicators of asthma response showed up in the BPA group, much more so than in the pups of the non-exposed mice," co-author Randall Goldblum said.
Steve Georas of the Mary Parkes Center for Asthma, Allergy and Pulmonary Care at the University of Rochester, who was not involved in the study, said he found the results compelling.
"They're using what are probably going to be reasonable estimates of human neonatal exposure, and that seems to have an effect on the developing immune system or sensitivity to asthma," he said. "If you take it together with some epidemiologic studies, I would consider it cause for concern."
Sources for this story include: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/gre... http://www.businessweek.com/lifesty....
Showing posts with label plastic. Show all posts
Showing posts with label plastic. Show all posts
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Thursday, January 28, 2010
90 Percent of Cord Blood from U.S. Babies Tests Positive for BPA
(NaturalNews) For the first time in the history of its testing, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) has found bisphenol A (BPA) in the umbilical cord blood of American babies. Nine out of ten samples tested positive for the chemical, a shocking number when considering the laundry list of chronic illnesses that are associated with BPA exposure.
Used in the production of polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins, BPA has come under increasing scrutiny over the past several years for its role in contributing to the development of cancer, endocrine damage, reproductive problems, and neurological dysfunction. Many plastics manufacturers have begun removing the additive from their products, despite continued reassurances by the FDA that the chemical is safe.
Studies continue to show that BPA is dangerous, even at minimal levels, and that it should not be used in consumer products. Several groups, including the Endocrine Society and the American Medical Association (AMA), have expressed opposition to the use of BPA. Scientists are finding that low-dose exposure, especially during early developmental years, can actually cause more endocrine and reproductive problems than larger-dose exposure due to the way the body recognizes the chemical.
Not only was BPA found in babies, but 231 other chemicals were detected as well, indicating that human beings are exposed to more toxic chemicals than ever. Experts fear that such an onslaught of toxicity may cause permanent damage to the next generation of Americans.
Public outcry over the FDA's continued approval of BPA despite numerous studies revealing its dangers has led the agency to express that it will reevaluate its position. The agency was supposed to issue an updated review about BPA safety on November 30 but it never actually followed through. The FDA most recently claimed that the report will be made available before the end of the year.
Experts and analysts believe the food industry is behind the push to keep BPA legal, exerting influence on the FDA to conceal the truth about its dangers. Many manufacturers have voluntarily been able to eliminate BPA from their products, illustrating that there is no reason why it should continue to be used by anyone.
The AMA, the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists have all endorsed a resolution that calls on Congress to minimize or eliminate the use of BPA in consumer products. The EWG hopes that top priority will be given to the issue in light of the group's recent discovery.
Sources for this story include: http://www.ewg.org/minoritycordbloo...
Used in the production of polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins, BPA has come under increasing scrutiny over the past several years for its role in contributing to the development of cancer, endocrine damage, reproductive problems, and neurological dysfunction. Many plastics manufacturers have begun removing the additive from their products, despite continued reassurances by the FDA that the chemical is safe.
Studies continue to show that BPA is dangerous, even at minimal levels, and that it should not be used in consumer products. Several groups, including the Endocrine Society and the American Medical Association (AMA), have expressed opposition to the use of BPA. Scientists are finding that low-dose exposure, especially during early developmental years, can actually cause more endocrine and reproductive problems than larger-dose exposure due to the way the body recognizes the chemical.
Not only was BPA found in babies, but 231 other chemicals were detected as well, indicating that human beings are exposed to more toxic chemicals than ever. Experts fear that such an onslaught of toxicity may cause permanent damage to the next generation of Americans.
Public outcry over the FDA's continued approval of BPA despite numerous studies revealing its dangers has led the agency to express that it will reevaluate its position. The agency was supposed to issue an updated review about BPA safety on November 30 but it never actually followed through. The FDA most recently claimed that the report will be made available before the end of the year.
Experts and analysts believe the food industry is behind the push to keep BPA legal, exerting influence on the FDA to conceal the truth about its dangers. Many manufacturers have voluntarily been able to eliminate BPA from their products, illustrating that there is no reason why it should continue to be used by anyone.
The AMA, the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists have all endorsed a resolution that calls on Congress to minimize or eliminate the use of BPA in consumer products. The EWG hopes that top priority will be given to the issue in light of the group's recent discovery.
Sources for this story include: http://www.ewg.org/minoritycordbloo...
Friday, January 22, 2010
Despite FDA concern, American Chemistry Council insists Bisphenol A is safe for everyone
(NaturalNews) The American Chemistry Council (ACC) has never met a chemical it didn't like. The organization is a chemical advocacy group whose members include all the largest chemical producers such as Monsanto, Bayer, Merck, Chevron, DuPont and many more. It's like a Who's Who of companies whose products pollute the world, in my opinion.
Much like Big Tobacco did with nicotine -- "It's not addictive, we swear!" -- the ACC says bisphenol A (BPA) is perfectly safe for you. Drink all you want!
As the ACC's Lisa Harrison told CBS News, "What's important to remember is the FDA indicated that the BPA has not been proven harmful to children or adults."
This is the default position of all the chemical companies who poison our bodies and our planet: All synthetic chemicals are "safe" until you prove them dangerous.
It's a hazardous assumption to make, of course. The more reasonable assumption would be that all synthetic chemicals are dangerous until proven safe, but that position wouldn't allow these companies to sell very many chemicals, would it?
That's how the FDA operates across the board: Ignore all the science you don't like, and cherry-pick the science you want to believe, even if it's all been funded by the chemical companies. By relying on that gimmick, the FDA was able to maintain its intellectually dishonest position that BPA posed no risk to human health.
There's also evidence of corruption and fraud in the FDA's position on BPA. Did you know, for example, that the chairman of the FDA panel making a key decision on BPA "safety" -- Martin Philbert -- also sits at the top of a company that received a secret $5 million payment (http://www.naturalnews.com/026400_B...).
But the scientific evidence against BPA is now so large than even the FDA can't continue to stonewall the public on this issue. BPA is dangerous to human health, and it should be banned from all items that come into contact with foods (which includes soup can linings, food packaging, water bottles and much more...).
As Kelly Wallace from CBC News discovered, just eating one tuna sandwich caused BPA levels in her blood to soar to over five times the average BPA level found in the blood of American consumers (and that "average" level is dangerous to begin with). (http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010...)
Sources for this story include:
Washington Post:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dy...
CBS News:
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010...
LA Times:
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/gre...
NaturalNews:
http://www.naturalnews.com/bispheno...
Or, simply send a tweet from your Twitter account as follows:
#shortyawards @HealthRanger #health (because... write your short supporting comment here)
(You must insert a comment of WHY you vote for the Health Ranger in order for your vote to count.)
Thank you for your support!
Much like Big Tobacco did with nicotine -- "It's not addictive, we swear!" -- the ACC says bisphenol A (BPA) is perfectly safe for you. Drink all you want!
As the ACC's Lisa Harrison told CBS News, "What's important to remember is the FDA indicated that the BPA has not been proven harmful to children or adults."
This is the default position of all the chemical companies who poison our bodies and our planet: All synthetic chemicals are "safe" until you prove them dangerous.
It's a hazardous assumption to make, of course. The more reasonable assumption would be that all synthetic chemicals are dangerous until proven safe, but that position wouldn't allow these companies to sell very many chemicals, would it?
The FDA's conspiracy to promote dangerous chemicals
The FDA, for its part, has been engaged in a conspiracy of silence to avoid admitting that BPA is dangerous for human health. This conspiracy was recently shattered when the FDA's own science advisors blasted the agency for ignoring over 100 published studies showing BPA was dangerous. The FDA, you see, had discarded those 100+ studies and, instead, based its conclusions on just two studies that happened to be funded by the chemical industry.That's how the FDA operates across the board: Ignore all the science you don't like, and cherry-pick the science you want to believe, even if it's all been funded by the chemical companies. By relying on that gimmick, the FDA was able to maintain its intellectually dishonest position that BPA posed no risk to human health.
There's also evidence of corruption and fraud in the FDA's position on BPA. Did you know, for example, that the chairman of the FDA panel making a key decision on BPA "safety" -- Martin Philbert -- also sits at the top of a company that received a secret $5 million payment (http://www.naturalnews.com/026400_B...).
But the scientific evidence against BPA is now so large than even the FDA can't continue to stonewall the public on this issue. BPA is dangerous to human health, and it should be banned from all items that come into contact with foods (which includes soup can linings, food packaging, water bottles and much more...).
As Kelly Wallace from CBC News discovered, just eating one tuna sandwich caused BPA levels in her blood to soar to over five times the average BPA level found in the blood of American consumers (and that "average" level is dangerous to begin with). (http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010...)
Sources for this story include:
Washington Post:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dy...
CBS News:
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010...
LA Times:
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/gre...
NaturalNews:
http://www.naturalnews.com/bispheno...
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Help the Health Ranger (the author of this article) win the Shorty Awards for the category of health! Any Twitter user can vote from this page: http://shortyawards.com/healthrangerOr, simply send a tweet from your Twitter account as follows:
#shortyawards @HealthRanger #health (because... write your short supporting comment here)
(You must insert a comment of WHY you vote for the Health Ranger in order for your vote to count.)
Thank you for your support!
New study confirms bisphenol A found in plastic is linked to heart disease
(NaturalNews) According to the American Heart Association, cardiovascular disease is the number one killer in the U.S. Various forms of the disease take the lives of over 80 million Americans a year. And while we've all heard about the risk factors for cardiovascular disease -- including smoking, being overweight, high cholesterol and lack of exercise -- it appears it's time to add bisphenol A, better known as BPA, to that list.
This chemical has been used for decades in polycarbonate plastic products including refillable drink containers, plastic eating utensils and baby bottles as well as the epoxy resins that line most food and soft-drink cans. Now a new study just published in the journal PLoS ONE provides the most compelling evidence so far that BPA exposure is dangerous to the cardiovascular system.
Using 2006 data from the US government's National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), researchers from the Peninsula Medical School at the University of Exeter in the UK studied urinary BPA concentrations and found a significantly strong link between BPA exposure and heart disease. In 2008, these same scientists discovered that higher urinary BPA concentrations were associated with a long list of medical problems in adults, including liver dysfunction, diabetes and obesity. This research team was also the first to report evidence that BPA was linked to cardiovascular disease -- and their new research offers further confirmation of a strong connection between BPA and heart ailments.
Despite the fact the new study found that urinary BPA concentrations were one third lower than those measured from 2003 to 2004, higher concentrations of BPA were still associated with heart disease. "This is only the second analysis of BPA in a large human population sample. It has allowed us to largely confirm our original analysis and exclude the possibility that our original findings were a statistical 'blip'," David Melzer, Professor of Epidemiology and Public Health at the Peninsula Medical School and the research team leader, said in a statement to the media.
"We now need to investigate what causes these health risk associations in more detail and to clarify whether they are caused by BPA itself or by some other factor linked to BPA exposure. The risks associated with exposure to BPA may be small, but they are relevant to very large numbers of people. This information is important since it provides a great opportunity for intervention to reduce the risks," added scientist Tamara Galloway, Professor of Ecotoxicology at the University of Exeter and senior author of the paper.
As NaturalNews has previously reported, BPA exposure has been shown in other studies to be associated with neurological problems (http://www.naturalnews.com/025801_B...), diabetes and aggressive behavior in little girls (http://www.naturalnews.com/027382_B...). Unfortunately, the FDA has demonstrated little ability or interest in taking decisive measures to protect consumers from this chemical (http://www.naturalnews.com/024593_t...).Your best strategy to avoid BPA? Eat natural, fresh foods and stay away from cans, bottles and other plastic containing products that are not certified BPA-free.
For more information:
http://www.pms.ac.uk/news.php?id=85
http://www.naturalnews.com/BPA.html
This chemical has been used for decades in polycarbonate plastic products including refillable drink containers, plastic eating utensils and baby bottles as well as the epoxy resins that line most food and soft-drink cans. Now a new study just published in the journal PLoS ONE provides the most compelling evidence so far that BPA exposure is dangerous to the cardiovascular system.
Using 2006 data from the US government's National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), researchers from the Peninsula Medical School at the University of Exeter in the UK studied urinary BPA concentrations and found a significantly strong link between BPA exposure and heart disease. In 2008, these same scientists discovered that higher urinary BPA concentrations were associated with a long list of medical problems in adults, including liver dysfunction, diabetes and obesity. This research team was also the first to report evidence that BPA was linked to cardiovascular disease -- and their new research offers further confirmation of a strong connection between BPA and heart ailments.
Despite the fact the new study found that urinary BPA concentrations were one third lower than those measured from 2003 to 2004, higher concentrations of BPA were still associated with heart disease. "This is only the second analysis of BPA in a large human population sample. It has allowed us to largely confirm our original analysis and exclude the possibility that our original findings were a statistical 'blip'," David Melzer, Professor of Epidemiology and Public Health at the Peninsula Medical School and the research team leader, said in a statement to the media.
"We now need to investigate what causes these health risk associations in more detail and to clarify whether they are caused by BPA itself or by some other factor linked to BPA exposure. The risks associated with exposure to BPA may be small, but they are relevant to very large numbers of people. This information is important since it provides a great opportunity for intervention to reduce the risks," added scientist Tamara Galloway, Professor of Ecotoxicology at the University of Exeter and senior author of the paper.
As NaturalNews has previously reported, BPA exposure has been shown in other studies to be associated with neurological problems (http://www.naturalnews.com/025801_B...), diabetes and aggressive behavior in little girls (http://www.naturalnews.com/027382_B...). Unfortunately, the FDA has demonstrated little ability or interest in taking decisive measures to protect consumers from this chemical (http://www.naturalnews.com/024593_t...).Your best strategy to avoid BPA? Eat natural, fresh foods and stay away from cans, bottles and other plastic containing products that are not certified BPA-free.
For more information:
http://www.pms.ac.uk/news.php?id=85
http://www.naturalnews.com/BPA.html
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