Plastic Affecting Health

24 September 2009 — In late May 2009, food and chemical industry lobbyists met in Washington, D.C. to discuss communications strategies aimed at keeping the toxic plastic chemical bisphenol A (BPA) on the market and front and centre in the lives of mothers, minorities and the poor. The internal meeting notes were leaked to media and the Environmental Working Group, and indicate plans to use deception-based techniques, including using a pregnant woman as a national spokesperson on the benefits of BPA. The notes highlight the importance of focusing on the impact of BPA bans on minorities (Hispanic and African American) and poor.  Fear tactics are suggested — e.g., “Do you want to have access to baby food anymore?” 

21 November 2010 — As the holiday season fast approaches, it is good to be reminded how much plastic is given and received, and especially destined for children and babies. Because babies tend to put everything into their mouth at the beginning of their life-long world discovery process, it is particularly important to select toys that are not toxic. All plastics contain synthetic chemicals. There is no such thing as a pure plastic without any additives.

30 March 2011 — A groundbreaking peer-reviewed study by the Breast Cancer Fund (BCF) and the Silent Spring Institute (SSI) on the effects of plastic food packaging was announced today, and has been published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives. It is entitled: Food Packaging and Bisphenol A and Bis(2-Ethylhexyl) Phthalate Exposure: Findings from a Dietary Intervention. Laboratory studies with animals have link endocrine disruptors, including bisphenol A (BPA) and phthalates, to various adverse health effects, but this appears to be the first peer-reviewed study involving human test subjects.

The researchers provided five San Francisco Bay Area families with three days worth of fresh organic food – stored only in glass, not canned or packaged in plastic – and the family members also avoided packaged foods prepared outside the home.  The families were tested before, during and after eating the fresh food for three days, and the results were stunning. Their levels of endocrine disruptors decreased dramatically, in particular bisphenol A (BPA), which showed a 60% decrease, and Bis(2-Ethyhexyl) Phthalate (DEHP), a 50% dip. The upshot:  Decrease your exposure to plastic packaging and you decrease your intake of endocrine disruptors.

18 April 2008 — Canadian Government Risk Assessment of Bisphenol A Leads to Proposal to Ban Polycarbonate Baby Bottles!

A wonderful step forward for health and the environment! The Government of Canada announced today in Ottawa that a risk assessment of bisphenol A has been completed and has led the government to consider legally designating bisphenol A a ‘toxic’ substance hazardous to human health and the environment. This makes Canada the first jurisdiction in the world to begin taking tangible regulatory action against bisphenol A, which is the key chemical component in the plastic polycarbonate. Bisphenol A is used to make numerous common household items including many plastic baby bottles, reusable water bottles, large blue-coloured water storage bottles for water dispensers, and the lining of some food cans.