Topic: BPA & Human Health Effects
By: Elizabeth Grossman & Environmental Health News
Date: February 20, 2013
http://ogoapes.weebly.com/uploads/3/2/3/9/3239894/do_low_doses_of_bpa_harm_people.pdf
Date: February 20, 2013
http://ogoapes.weebly.com/uploads/3/2/3/9/3239894/do_low_doses_of_bpa_harm_people.pdf
Summary
The mystery of BPA and its effects on the human health still remains as scientists continue to disagree over whether the low doses of bisphenol A in canned foods and other consumer products pose a danger. A group of toxicologists is questioning the likelihood that BPA is harming human health. But biologists studying the chemical’s health effects disagree, saying that what’s been detected in people is comparable to amounts that have harmed lab animals. BPA is arguably the most controversial chemical in consumer products. It is used to make polycarbonate plastic as well as food and beverage can liners and some paper receipts and dental sealants. More than 90 percent of Americans tested have traces of BPA in their bodies as it is known to be relevant and ubiquitous. BPA acts like an estrogen that disrupts hormones by altering how their reproductive systems and brains develop, and setting the stage for breast and prostate cancer. People with higher levels of exposure have an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, obesity and diabetes, according to some studies. This debate is important because the scientific information is being used by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Food and Drug Administration in deciding whether to regulate BPA in consumer products, such as canned foods. The biologists say BPA, like other hormones, seems to have effects at low doses that don’t occur at high doses. That doesn’t
happen with the other chemicals that toxicologists are accustomed to. The issue is still uncertain of what BPA is capable of but actions are being taken to determine its exposure levels and the experimenting with animals.
Reflection
This is really weird to me that scientists are considering BPA as something that we should not be worrisome about and its not common for people like them to say that, well, at least for me it is. Seeing that this "BPA" is affecting 90% of Americans concerns me a lot because who knows that I, myself, or ones that I know are experiencing it without being aware that its already in our bodies. If we already know what harm BPA can do to us, I don't know why the officials aren't taking serious actions as it is also ubiquitous. Information like this in my eyes is already sparking the word dangerous to me. How can someone not do anything about it if its everywhere around us and have harmful potentialities?I think that the things we buy, we almost always assume it is safe but that isn't the case. I feel that we should come in and get something that is not suppose to be hurting us with ease. The amount of trust and belief we are putting into the people that are selling these "stuff" to us is insane because we are leaving ourselves at greater risks. The kind of situation we are dealing here reminds me of the precautionary principle and the reason why is that we are in the position of standby and making zero progress to start eliminating BPA due to major inefficiencies of scientific information.
The mystery of BPA and its effects on the human health still remains as scientists continue to disagree over whether the low doses of bisphenol A in canned foods and other consumer products pose a danger. A group of toxicologists is questioning the likelihood that BPA is harming human health. But biologists studying the chemical’s health effects disagree, saying that what’s been detected in people is comparable to amounts that have harmed lab animals. BPA is arguably the most controversial chemical in consumer products. It is used to make polycarbonate plastic as well as food and beverage can liners and some paper receipts and dental sealants. More than 90 percent of Americans tested have traces of BPA in their bodies as it is known to be relevant and ubiquitous. BPA acts like an estrogen that disrupts hormones by altering how their reproductive systems and brains develop, and setting the stage for breast and prostate cancer. People with higher levels of exposure have an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, obesity and diabetes, according to some studies. This debate is important because the scientific information is being used by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Food and Drug Administration in deciding whether to regulate BPA in consumer products, such as canned foods. The biologists say BPA, like other hormones, seems to have effects at low doses that don’t occur at high doses. That doesn’t
happen with the other chemicals that toxicologists are accustomed to. The issue is still uncertain of what BPA is capable of but actions are being taken to determine its exposure levels and the experimenting with animals.
Reflection
This is really weird to me that scientists are considering BPA as something that we should not be worrisome about and its not common for people like them to say that, well, at least for me it is. Seeing that this "BPA" is affecting 90% of Americans concerns me a lot because who knows that I, myself, or ones that I know are experiencing it without being aware that its already in our bodies. If we already know what harm BPA can do to us, I don't know why the officials aren't taking serious actions as it is also ubiquitous. Information like this in my eyes is already sparking the word dangerous to me. How can someone not do anything about it if its everywhere around us and have harmful potentialities?I think that the things we buy, we almost always assume it is safe but that isn't the case. I feel that we should come in and get something that is not suppose to be hurting us with ease. The amount of trust and belief we are putting into the people that are selling these "stuff" to us is insane because we are leaving ourselves at greater risks. The kind of situation we are dealing here reminds me of the precautionary principle and the reason why is that we are in the position of standby and making zero progress to start eliminating BPA due to major inefficiencies of scientific information.