The recent news about the possible health risks of using polycarbonate bottles (like ones made by Nalgene) has made me a little uneasy. Now I'm wondering about about the relationship between microwaves and plastic, like the reusable food containers I heat up almost daily.
Are the high temperatures leaching chemicals into my food.
on Yahoo! |
The future may no longer be in plastics.
Another study linked the chemical bisphenol A, used to make hard, shatter proof plastics, to precancerous tumors, urinary tract problems and early puberty. The study was performed on rats that were fed or injected with small amounts of the chemical, and although the results are preliminary the group of scientists involved in the study said that possible effects on humans "cannot be dismissed." The National Toxicology Program, who headed the study, is comprised of scientists from many formidable national agencies: the Center for Disease Control, US Food and Drug Administrations, and the US Institutes of Health. Agencies not likely to be ignored considering that this study echoes findings made late last summer by the National Institute of Health.
Bisphenol A is ubiquitous and found in Nalgene bottles, that say polycarbonate (#7 on the bottom) as well as clear plastic baby bottles.
on Yahoo! |
There are plenty of reasons to avoid using so much plastic, both environmental and health wise. For instance, marine researchers have shown that plastic debris outweighs zooplankton in remote parts of the Pacific. Health wise, phthalates, a chemical added to normally rigid PVC to make soft products, are potential hormone disruptors and may increase infertility in men.
When it comes to packing lunch, most of us use plastic wrap, plastic baggies, and/or plastic containers to transport our food.
How do you feel about bisphenol A (BPA). While you might not know what this chemical compound is, chances are high that it is in your home and even in you. I hate to sound so alarmist but a recent report on BPA alarmed me.
The chemical compound BPA is used to make hard plastics and is found in plastic baby bottles, dental sealants and linings of metal cans among other common household objects.
You all know I am all about hydration. I even made a cool little water calculator so you can compute how much water you should be drinking. Now, if you drink a lot of bottled water, I am urging your to take a minute and weigh your convenience against the environmental impact of all that plastic. RSS Feed 
