8 January 2009 — Plastic Additives Leach into and Skew Medical Experiments — Medical researchers from the University of Alberta have found that disposable plasticware commonly used in scientific experiments leach two types of chemicals that affect and can even ruin the results of experiments. Oleamide (a lubricating agent added to the plasticware) and quaternary ammonium biocides (anti-bacterial agents also added to the plastic) were found to leach from the plastic. Certain of the compounds were also found to biologically interact with, and change the behaviour of, human enzymes and brain receptors in different experiments.
According to the lead researcher, Andrew Holt, ‘Because oleamide is a molecule found in the human body that contributes to normal physiological functioning, ingesting molecules that are structurally similar to oleamide may either over-stimulate or-more likely-inhibit the body processes egulated by oleamide.’ Oleamide is found in, and known to leach from, certain plastic food and drink containers, especially those made of polypropylene, but the potential health effects of oleamide are not known.
Article citation in the journal Science: Bioactive Contaminants Leach from Disposable Laboratory Plasticware, McDonald et al., Science, 7 November 2008: 917.
See the abstract of the article here:http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/abstract/sci;322/5903/917
And an overview of the article here:http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/11/081119173218.htm.