Phthalates
Alternatives to the now infamous compound keep popping up. But researchers aren’t convinced they’re any better for us - Maya Wei-Haas
image by: IgorVetushko
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Why 'BPA Free' May Not Mean a Plastic Product Is Safe
The study started as an accident. Geneticist Patricia Hunt of Washington State University and her team were investigating the reproductive effects of BPA in mice. Housed in BPA-free plastic cages, the test group got doses of BPA through a dropper; the control group didn't.
Everything seemed rosy—until it wasn't.
“Our control data just started to get really wonky,” Hunt says. The differences between it and the test group vanished, and many control mice started showing genetic issues. Though initially confused, the team discovered that some of the plastic caging was damaged and was leaching bisphenol S, or BPS—an alternative to the now infamous plastic component BPA.
It…
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Study shows BPA substitutes may cause same health issues as the original
The bisphenol story details the evolution of only one class of the endocrine-disrupting chemicals that are common contaminants in our lives. The ability of manufacturers to rapidly modify chemicals to produce structurally similar replacements undermines the ability of consumers to protect themselves from hazardous chemicals and federal efforts to regulate them. As a canary whose research has been twice derailed by bisphenols, we feel the need to chirp loudly: These contaminants may not only affect our health, but also our ability to conduct meaningful studies of chemicals to determine if and how they impact on our health and the environment.
The problem with all the plastic that’s leaching into your food
There’s mounting evidence that it’s a health hazard.
We are guinea pigs in a worldwide experiment on microplastics
One of the main problems with plastics is that although we may only need them fleetingly – seconds in the case of microbeads in personal care products, or minutes as in plastic grocery bags – they stick around for hundreds of years. Unfortunately, much of this plastic ends up as environmental pollution.
How Risky, Really, Is That Chemical?
Bisphenol A, phthalates, polychlorinated biphenyls, polybrominated diphenyl ethers—these barely pronounceable chemicals contaminate the bodies of nearly all American pregnant women. Worse, research suggests that most pass through the placenta and into the bloodstream of developing fetuses. But how scared should expectant parents be?
How Safe Is Tupperware?
Can plastic food-storage containers leach hormone-disrupting chemicals into your leftovers?
The Scary New Evidence on BPA-Free Plastics
Today many plastic products, from sippy cups and blenders to Tupperware containers, are marketed as BPA-free. But Bittner’s findings—some of which have been confirmed by other scientists—suggest that many of these alternatives share the qualities that make BPA so potentially harmful.
What that ‘BPA-free’ label isn’t telling you
Purchase a plastic water bottle, and there’s a good chance that it will feature a “BPA-free” label. You might be seeing it more often because the industrial chemical Bisphenol-A has now been removed from a wide array of products. But, are products that are “BPA-free” actually less risky? And do these labels actually effect consumer behavior?
Beyond BPA: Could 'BPA-Free' Products Be Just as Unsafe?
Concerns about toxic bottles and other consumer goods have led to new plastics—but we don't know much about them.
Burning Question: Is it OK to Heat Food in Plastic?
Since plastic was first synthesized in the early 1900s, it has evolved into everything from lifesaving medical devices to a softening agent in hair conditioner. Plastic is ubiquitous but there are two chemicals in it to watch out for when it comes to what your body ingests.
Facing Consumer Pressure, Companies Start to Seek Safe Alternatives to BPA
For consumers, figuring out which canned foods and plastics contain the controversial chemical known as BPA can be nearly impossible. But determining whether newer alternatives are any safer may be even more difficult.
How I discovered a coffee pot was making my patient sick
While we can metabolize and rid our bodies of BPA rapidly, we are so frequently exposed to it in plastic food containers, can liners, and cash register receipts that our levels remain high. In the US, the CDC periodically samples the urine of people participating in NHANES and has found BPA in 92% of those sampled. And lest you think “BPA-free” is the answer, the substitute plastics which contain bisphenol S or other resins appear to be equally hazardous.
How to Avoid BPA and Phthalates in Food and Various Household Products
Bisphenol-A (commonly known as BPA) and phthalates (called “everywhere chemicals” because they are so common) are used in making countless plastic products that we see and use everyday. BPA is used in hard, clear plastic, whereas phthalates help make plastic flexible. It is believed that both BPA and phthalates can leach from plastic into food, liquid, and directly into the mouths of children while sucking on pacifiers or teethers.
Phthalates are everywhere, and the health risks are worrying. How bad are they really?
Phthalates are everywhere, and a tidal wave of new research has documented their wide-ranging negative health impacts, but what are the real risks?
Step away from the cheeseburger: Fast food may expose diners to dangerous chemical
Researchers from George Washington University looked at data from nearly 9,000 participants who reported their diet in the past 24 hours, including whether they’d eaten any fast food. Those participants also provided a urinary sample. The more fast food a participant had consumed, the higher the level of phthalates in their urine.
Why 'BPA Free' May Not Mean a Plastic Product Is Safe
Alternatives to the now infamous compound keep popping up. But researchers aren’t convinced they’re any better for us.
American Chemistry Council
Phthalates have established a very strong safety profile during the 50 years in which they have been in general use. There is no reliable evidence that any phthalate has ever caused a health problem for a human from its intended use. Despite this history of safe use, some issues have been raised about possible human health effects.
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