A controversy regarding the safety of low-dose effects of bisphenol A
(BPA), a chemical used to make hard, clear plastics such as those found
in baby bottles, food-storage containers and the lining of soda cans,
has reached the forefront in America.
Each year, over 6 billion tons of BPA are used to make polycarbonate
plastics. Chemical bonds that BPA forms in plastic can unravel when
heated, washed or exposed to acidic foods, prompting the chemical to
contaminate foods. And while the plastic industry fails to see the need
for alarm regarding the health impact of this chemical, researchers with
no ties to the industry beg to differ.
Opposing Results
Your body is extremely sensitive to sex hormones, and miniscule
amounts can induce profound changes. Therefore, since BPA imitates the
sex hormone estradiol, scientists are afraid even low levels of BPA
could have a negative impact. Moreover, there is evidence (among mice
and rats) low doses of BPA can cause:
- Hyperactivity
- Early puberty
- Increased fat formation
- Abnormal sexual behavior
- Disrupted reproductive cycles
- Structural damage to the brain
Of the 115 published studies researchers reviewed on the low-dose
effects of BPA, 94 of them reported harmful effects on mice and rats; 21
did not.
Coincidentally, none of the 11 studies funded by chemical companies
found harmful effects caused by BPA, which the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention has reported is detected in 95 percent of all
patients tested. On the other hand, more than 90 percent of the studies
conducted by scientists not associated with the chemical industry [text
in blue] discovered negative consequences.
Environmental Health Perspectives Free Full-Text Download
USA Today April 14, 2005
Dr. Mercola's Comment:
The
negative effects of bisphenol A (BPA) have been documented for many
years. This latest study clearly illustrates the massive conflict of
interest that is present in many major industries promoting consumer
goods.
In a manner similar to those used in the
pharmaceutical, tobacco,
cell phone and
artificial sweetener industries, the plastics industry finds ways to
create misleading information about the safety -- or lack thereof -- of
their products.
The results of this study again show how research findings can be
manipulated by money, and how the greed of the people who head up major
corporations can, indeed, have a negative impact on your health.
BPA is used in many products of modern society, not just as the
building block for polycarbonate plastic (from which it leaches as the
container ages), but also in the manufacture of epoxy resins and other
plastics, including:
- Polysulfone
- Alkylphenolic
- Polyalylate
- Polyester-styrene
- Certain polyester resins
According to the lead researcher in this study, BPA mimics
estradiol, a sex hormone that can trigger major changes in your body,
which is why medical experts are so concerned about the impact of even
tiny amounts of it showing up in people. The problems associated with
BPA include:
- Structural damage to the brain
- Hyperactivity
- Abnormal sexual behavior
- Increased fat formation
- Early puberty
- Disrupted reproductive cycles
What Now?
With the possibility of 95 percent or more of us having BPA and,
quite possibly, many other chemicals in our bodies being very real, it
begs the question: Can you do anything about it?
Prevention
The only real way to prevent toxins from collecting in your body
in the first place is to avoid exposure to them. To help you with this
process, I provide some guidelines on how you can learn to
identify and avoid common toxins in your environment.
Treatment
There are numerous methods that can be used to help detoxify your
body, and they vary in cost, time and efficacy. I tend to gravitate
toward the treatments that are simple, effective, inexpensive and don't
involve taking a lot of supplements.
The treatments below fit all of these criteria, and can be
incorporated into your daily life. They all work to support your body's
natural detoxification systems, namely your digestive system, liver,
kidneys, lungs and skin.
- Stimulate blood flow through your organs
of elimination. Constitutional
hydrotherapy treatments increase blood flow through your liver and
kidneys, enhancing their filtering effects.
- Increase toxin elimination through the
skin. Use a
sauna
regularly to increase how much, how often, and how deeply you sweat.
- Give you lungs some extra support.
By practicing
deep
breathing exercises you can greatly enhance this vital
detoxification mechanism.
- Stimulate lymphatic flow.
Dry skin brushing and
exercise
are two of the only ways to increase the flow of the lymphatic system,
your body's garbage collector.
- Maintain optimal levels of beneficial
intestinal flora. The best ways to accomplish this are by
incorporating
fermented foods into your diet.
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