Toxic body of evidence
Many feel that the products on our grocery and pharmacy stores shelves are safe. The myth, in the US, is that Europe, especially the UK, is more protected but in relation to certain synthetic chemicals and plastics I am not so sure that is true. That Europe is safer is a long-held belief, that is open for debate.
Caveat Emptor or buyer beware has never been more relevant than it is today. Regulations are often outdated and not sufficient to keep up with the thousands of synthetic chemicals that industry uses on a annual basis, and that is not taking into account the 'cocktail effect' that a number of different products can expose us to.
Synthetic chemicals are just that, synthetic, and whilst I am not saying plants are always safe, the long term effects, of the phlethora of synthetic chemicals in our day to day lives is still not really known.
Safety assurances are often left up to the very company, producing these synthetic chemicals, to deem them safe for 'normal' use. Industry regulators have little capacity to police all sectors of the market, and, tragically, we often see the door being closed after the horse has, well and truly, bolted.
Non-stick cookware, plastic drinking
bottles, air fresheners, cosmetics and all manner of other
'everyday' items have been linked to possible detrimental effects
on human health.
One substance has received a great deal of press over the last ten years, Bisphenol A, sometimes it reaches the nightly news, at other times the story drifts into the media abyss.
Bisphenol A (BPA) is a synthetic chemical used in plastics and epoxy resins and has been considered a worry, by many, for countless years.
BPA was originally developed, in the 1930's, as a synthetic oestrogen, the very issue that scientists are saying we have to be cautious of!
Theo Colburn in the book 'Our Stolen Future' discusses this chemical, reporting research done as far back as 1988. It is only some twenty one years later that much has been done, and even now the steps taken, could be deemed minor.
Canada has been at the fore-front of highlighting concern with the synthetic chemical Bisphenol A. Bisphenol A (BPA) is commonly found in canned food linings, plastics, fast food containers, water bottles, and yet the smallest amount is thought to be a major endocrine disruptor. That essentially means messing with our hormones, that make us who we are, and perhaps an explanation for such widespread fertility issues in the young and middle aged population?
As an addition, Statistics Canada released a report on August 16th 2010, finding that BPA was present in 91% of Canadians. "The real value in this is...for the very first time (we) have baseline information against which we can study trends and track what is happening with respect to bisphenol A exposure," said Tracey Bushnik, of Statscan's Health Analysis Division. [1]
The study also said that the young and teenagers had
higher levels than the older populations in Canada. Many more
people eat pre-packed food and drinks cans also can contain
BPA. I grew up drinking water or occasionally pop from a
glass bottle, now it is plastic or a can, could that be attributing
to more BPA exposure?
Environmentalists for many years have been saying that we need population growth to be controlled, how ghastly that human fertility is thought to be so affected by our everyday household products. What are you doing to reduce your exposure to BPA?
References:
[1] Reuters.co.uk "Canada tracks BPA exposure, finds in most people."
©ActualOrganics 2009
Tags: synthetic chemicals, bisphenol A, fertility, endocrine disruption,
"Another excellent book on the general subject is "Exposed: The Toxic Chemistry of Everyday Products and What's at Stake for American Power", by Mark Schapiro (2007)
His book explores the global political economic implications of the divergent stances of different regulatory agencies. It is fascinating."