Green Options

The Endocrine Society, a medical group representing the research of hormones, issued an intake warning at their annual meeting earlier this month.

The group is concerned over bisphenol-A and similar hormone-disrupting chemicals, found in plastics, pesticides, and other products. It said in a statement that bisphenol-A is a

’significant concern for public health’ and that it’s important for consumers to take a ‘precautionary approach’ to limit their exposure.

This follows on the heels of a few more studies regarding BPA. First–and most worrisome–is the recent study that showed that human exposure to BPA is likely much higher than previously thought and much higher than deemed “safe” by the FDA. That study’s author, Dr. Frederick vom Saal, who presented his study’s findings at the Endocrine Society’s annual meeting, said of the chemical:

BPA is now known to be a potent estrogen.

Human and animal studies indicate it could be related to diabetes, heart disease, liver abnormalities, miscarriage and other reproductive abnormalities, as well as prostate and breast cancer

Other recent studies should have us all cutting out the polycarbonate plastic.

For the first time, a study proved that using polycarbonate plastic increases your blood levels of bisphenol-A. And not just a little bit, either. After a week of using these materials for beverages, study participants had a 60 percent increase in the level of BPA in their blood.

Bisphenol-A has been linked to early onset of puberty, low sperm count and infertility, and its carcinogenic effects may include breast cancer. It has also been linked to heart disease and diabetes. You’ve heard all of this, I’m sure.

But how ’bout this? Bisphenol-A was first developed as a synthetic hormone. It’s an endocrine disruptor. It affects our children. It affects our adults. And the FDA still refuses to require removal from food contact materials?!

The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) is reporting that a recently-published study by Health Canada found that the vast majority of canned soft drink and energy drinks contain bisphenol A, a known endocrine disruptor and estrogen mimic.

The study, published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry in January, tested 72 canned drinks purchased in 2007 and found detectable levels of BPA in 69 of them.  The levels are within the limits of what Health Canada considers “safe,” however, some critics believe that there is no safe level of this chemical, pointing out that studies in peer-reviewed science journals have shown that BPA can increase breast, ovarian, and prostate cancer cell growth in animal testing even at very low doses.

Recent concern and awareness of the hazards of polycarbonate plastic baby bottles has resulted in many companies looking to produce safer alternatives. Many experts recommend glass for the most safe and eco friendly bottle, but anyone who has ever had children knows how babies love to throw things onto the floor. Obviously, for this reason glass bottles don’t seem like such a good idea.

The makers of babylife wee*go bottles must have had this in mind when they developed their product.  Their glass bottles are protected by a colorful silicone sleeve that can be boiled or put into the dishwasher along with the bottle itself.  The nipple that is included with the bottle is latex-free, and the recyclable plug and cap contain absolutely no polycarbonate.

Pretty cool: two separate groups of researchers at the annual meeting of the American Chemical Society have outlined a way to use carbon dioxide emissions as a starting material for making CDs, DVDs, beverage bottles and other polycarbonate plastic items. “Using CO₂ to create polycarbonates might not solve the total carbon dioxide problem, but it could be a significant contribution,” says researcher [...]