ourdoodah

by Jane Odin

PREGNANT AND NEW MOMS – BEWARE PLASTICS! (and everybody else should do the same)

Plastics off-gas volatile organic compounds known to interfere radically with the endocrine system (a complex network of glands including ovaries, testes, thyroid, adrenals and intestines) and chromosomal DNA (the basic structure of life). We’ll focus on Bisphenol A (BPA) and Phthalates, in hopes of convincing the reader to abandon the use of off-gassing plastics that come in contact with food, pregnant mothers, babies, toddlers & pets.

• BPA and phthalates imitate estrogen in both males and females and should be considered very dangerous.

• High levels of both chemicals found in all people tested.

• Phthalates alter chromosomal DNA.

• Estrogen dominance is at the root of most cancer.

In July ’08 Congress signed a ban on phythalates in children’s products because they cause Cancer. What about the rest of us? The production of phthalates should be totally banned. This is doubtful, since the federal agency Consumer Product Safety Commission recently over-ruled congress and decades of evidence by claiming phthalates are just fine for infants and all the rest of us. And the FDA has always ruled in favor of the plastics industry. Are our “protectors” unaware of the side effects of estrogen? We need an enormous outcry against this blatant disregard for our health and general welfare.

Estrogen Action:

There’s so much bisphenol A (BPA) and phthalates in air, water and food that just being alive in today’s environment is similar to wearing a sex hormone patch. Makes sense considering the millions of tons of estrogen mimickers created annually to make some plastics hard (BPA) and others, soft and pliable (phthalates).1)

These chemicals amplify the effects of estrogen, increase the estrogen load in the body and produce estrogen dominance in females and males. In females this dominance encourages breast cancer, stroke, heart disease, hypertension, weight gain and chronic fatigue. In males it may cause hair loss, lowered libido and impotency. Is estrogen dominance the reason for the apparent outstanding need for Viagra type drugs?

Biochemist Tsu-Tsair Chi has developed Myomin, a chinese herbal formula that is claimed to control both the formation and utilization of estrogen and has no side effects or toxicity. 2)3) It comes highly recommended on the web where Chi and others find “over 99% of all cancers are driven by estrogen.” Various researchers are confident this natural herbal medicine helps conditions caused by estrogen imbalance such as cancer, fibroids, endometriosis, breast cancer, ovarian cysts and andropause (low testosterone) in men.

BPA

Geneticist Patricia Hunt discovered BPA was leaching from polycarbonate plastics, harming her control-mice and ruining her experiments. Without her discovery it might have taken years longer to recognize this danger which the FDA continues to ignore. 4) Hunt often collaborates with Frederick vom Stall who inspired the controversial book “Our Stolen Future” (on our book list) which discusses their work among other reports of chemicals causing deadly hormonal disease. Various plastics councils have supposedly threatened both scientists and insist the revolt against plastics is a left wing conspiracy. 5)

Off-gassing BPA creates chronic toxicity in animals. Over 100 animal studies show the following results at low doses: cancer, obesity, neurotoxicity and breast cancer. In 2007 a consensus statement by 38 BPA experts concluded average levels in people are above those known to produce harm in animals and there is concern for effects on brain, behavior, prostate gland, mammary gland in fetuses, infants and children. 6) Why do organic food stores continue to sell the #7 plastic water containers known to release BPA? 7)

Canada (4/08) announced a ban on the use of BPA-polycarbonate baby bottles and other infant products. Our FDA doesn’t get it. Based on several American Plastics Council studies, they gave the o.k. to BPA on 9/16/08. On the following day a new study on human subjects published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found BPA strongly linked to type 2 diabetes, heart disease and liver-enzyme problems. The Centers of Disease Control and Prevention conducted the study which gauged the levels of BPA in the urine of adults aged 18 to 74. The National Toxicology Program reported that “the possibility that BPA may alter human development cannot be dismissed.” 8)

The Sun Online, a British News Journal, ran a story 9/17/08 about research at Peninsula Medical School in Exeter, England that discovered subjects with high levels of BPA were twice as likely to have diabetes and heart disease. “Killer Chemical Lurking in Food” is name of the article. This study sounds almost identical with the one presented in Journal of the American Medical Association mentioned above.9)

Phthalates

Phthalates are the most common estrogen mimicking plasticizers and have the unique quality of migrating to the surface of plastic and evaporating/leaching into the environment.10) Phthalate DEHP, a carcinogen found in PVC (polyvinyl chloride) is commonly found in building products, medical devices, PVC toys such as rattles and teethers, shampoo, food packaging, vinyl flooring, hoses, nail polish, hair spray, to name a few. Many phthalates are classified as toxic by EPA’s Toxic Release Inventory and research using human subjects show phthalates create observable DNA damage in the sperm. 11) 12)

The primary route of DEHP exposure is food such as meat, fish and milk. Way back in ‘92 the International Programme on Chemical Safety found the daily intake of the average person to be 2mg. That was 17 years ago - imagine what it is now with fish swimming in seas of plastic and inorganic beef full of additives and who knows what. (Be sure and see video at the end of footnotes). The primary route for getting DEHP out of the body is sweating and avoidance. Sounds like a good idea to get to a sweat lodge or steam-bath.

Very high levels of phthalate esters were found in the blood serum of 28 out of 41 female subjects between 6 months and 8 years with very noticeable premature breast enlargement. That is 67%. “Identification of Phthalate Esters in the Serum of Puerto Rican Girls with Premature Breast Development” contains details of this research by the various participating institutions and can be found at the Environmental Health Perspectives Online.13)

“Testicular toxicity” is revealed in the “neutral comet assay” test showing DNA damage in human sperm cells exposed to Phthalates. This test is used in radio biology to measure DNA damage in individual cells. The study was approved by the Harvard School of Public Health and Massachusetts General Hospital Human Subjects Committee, and received full consent from males 20 – 54 involved in a semen quality study. This is one of the first human studies to report an association between DNA damage and phthalates in urine at levels found in the general population. “In the neutral comet assay, a cell with fragmented DNA has the appearance of a comet with a brightly fluorescent head and a fluorescent tail whose intensity represents the relative amount of DNA strand breaks present.” Images of fragmenting DNA are stunning and can be found at Environmental Health Perspectives. 14)

Avoid Estrogen Mimickers

According to Green Guide and other guides, 15) the safest plastics for repeated use in food storage are #2, #4 and #5. Plastic #1 (PETE or PET) primarily used for soda bottles, leaches carcinogenic phthalates and should not be reused in any fashion. #7 polycarbonate hard plastic must be avoided. #7 leaches BPA. The Green Guide.com advises removal of deli items from Plastic #3 soon as you get the items home because #3 is made of polyvinyl chloride which leaches dioxin, a carcinogen.

Styrofoam is #6 plastic and considered dangerous by Green Guide who associates it with central nervous system damage, depression, fatigue and compromised kidney function. They suggest emptying restaurant orders into safer containers pronto as soon as you get them home. Watch for deli items that have been resting on a bed of Styrofoam.

One of the most accessible sources of BPA is canned foods. Canned soups, pasta and infant formula have BPA levels in the dangerous zone. Some liquid baby formula is packed in containers lined with BPA.

BPA and phthalate free products for infants and toddlers are available. Type “BPA free”, “phthalate free” or “safe plastic” into the search box at Amazon, Ebay and other sites. But choose carefully, some of these products are poorly made and come apart with a toddlers loving care. Look at product reviews to learn if dishwater-safe etc before purchasing. Brands with good reviews include: Think Baby, Kid Basix, Born Free, Dr. Browns and Foogo by Thermos. We hope BPA and phathalate free products will soon be available for all of us including animals. Total avoidance of toxic plasticizers is impossible but there are many things one can do to protect against regular consumption. Some of the most important:

Never microwave plastic. Use pyrex or other oven safe glass.

Pregnant mothers, infants and toddlers should avoid food wrapped in plastic.

Store food and water in glass containers.

Remove plastic from the kitchen, nursery and toy-box.

Don’t drink from hose and wear gloves or wash hands after use of hose.

Look on the bottom of plastic containers and don’t use the worse plastics: 1,3,6&7.

Don’t let food touch plastic wrap; remove portions that touch plastic wrap. 16)

Remove dentures, partials etc at night and whenever possible.

Don’t drink or eat from plastic containers.

Don’t allow children or pets to play with plastic toys.

Plastic wrap made from polyethylene doesn’t leach plasticizers, PVC does.

Backings on new carpets use PVC.

Indoor plastic materials in vinyl sheet flooring, wall surfaces in bathroom and kitchen may cause respiratory problems. Proper ventilation is important.

Use glass lenses for eye glasses instead of plastic ones.

Phthalate DEHP is found in cosmetics, perfume, nail polish, hair spray and is considered a reason for high levels of phthalate in women 20–45.

Phthalate found in flea collars.

Use glass or ceramic bowls and containers to feed pets.

If there is breast cancer in the family or should you have breast cancer avoid BPA and Phthalates.

Plastics in the dash board and other sources off-gas BPA inside a new car. I can’t ride in a new auto without becoming ill.

Don’t use canned baby formula. “All U.S. manufacturers use BPA-based lining on the metal portions of the formula containers.” 17)

Go to Organic Grace.com 18) and you will see a list showing all cans release BPA with exceptions being Eden beans and Newman’s Own canned pet food. (Although I am uncertain about the new shorter cans of Newman’s dog food.)

Don’t eat canned food if you are pregnant.

Choose meat and dairy items that do not contain Rbst recombinant bovine growth hormone.19)

Available evidence suggests a majority of population is estrogen dominant. It might be a good idea to embrace a diet high in natural estrogen inhibitors such as Broccoli, berries, buckwheat, Cabbage, Citrus fruits, grapes, onions, melons, squash and green beans.

Helpful Sources

owww.deliciousorganics.com/controversies/plastics.htmur book list

www.environmentalhealthnews.org

http://healthychild.org/marketplace/retailer/

Concluding Remarks

Think of plastics as living entities giving off molecules of life altering chemicals. BPA, Phthalates and other plasticizers are found everywhere including the open seas of the Gulf and the North Atlantic, not to mention the blood of most tested subjects. The tragedy of this scenario is the powerful, life-altering effect they can have on the fetus and infant. Although these toxins are everywhere, Moms can limit direct feeding of plasticizers to their children.

Grab up the teethers and plastic toys and dump them in the trash. Get rid of the plastic sippy cups and kitchen ware. Don’t wrap infants in plastic; use cotton diapers, natural fiber garments and don’t let them suck and teethe on plastic furniture and objects. Avoid inoculations whenever possible for numerous reasons and because they are known to contain a wide variety of phthalates. Check this out for yourself.

The subject of dental plastics etc is an enormous subject and will be discussed in an upcoming blog.

Be sure to see video after the references.

References

1) http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Story?id=2138565&page=2ABC News

2) www.docsprefer.com/Myomin

3) http://www.energeticnutrition.com/vitalzym/myomin.html

4) Scientific American p 108; 9/08

5) http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,25065,00.html

6) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bisphenol_A

7) <http://www.conspiracyarchive.com/Blog/?p=401>

8) http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/36488/title/

9) http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/woman/health/health/article1696182.ece

10) www.carbohydrateeconomy.org/library/admin/uploadedfiles/Biochemical_Plasticizers.html

11) http://www.ehponline.org/members/2003/5756/5756.html

12) http://www.aerias.org/DesktopModules/ArticleDetail.aspx?articleId=60

13) http://www.ehponline.org/members/2000/108p895-900colon/colon-full.html

14) http://www.ehponline.org/members/2003/5756/5756.html

15) http://www.checnet.org/healtheHouse/pdf/plasticchart.pdf

16) http://www.aerias.org/DesktopModules/ArticleDetail.aspx?articleId=60

17) http://www.treehugger.com/files/2008/05/bisphenol-a-in-cans.php

18) http://organicgrace.com/node/316

19) www.deliciousorganics.com/controversies/plastics.htm