In an article this week in the Journal of the American Medical Association, investigators report that increased exposure to the commonly-used plastic additive bisphenol may be associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Bisphenol A (BPA) is widely used in plastic liners for food and beverage containers, in hard plastics used in bottles, and in many other consumer products.
Investigators measured BPA in the urine samples of over 1400 randomly selected people, who were also asked whether whether they had ever been told by a doctor that they had diabetes, heart disease, and several other medical conditions. The investigators found that BPA was detectable in the urine of over 90% of these individuals. Those who had higher levels of BPA in their urine were also significantly more likely to have reported a history of diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Higher BPA levels were not associated with an increase in cancer or any other medical condition.
Anyone ever notice, if you buy cola in a plastic
bottle and keep at a while before using it, there is a strong chemical taste? But the same product in a can tastes normal.
This is very interesting, and it is a rapidly changing area of study which has the public’s attention in 2008. I doubt that there are any lawsuits meriting damages based on everything that I am reading. It appears that scientists are in agreement that bishenol A is a low level toxin, but the causal link between bisphenol A and these other conditions is far from medically proven.
It is also interesting that this article states, “Higher BPA levels were not associated with an increase in cancer or any other medical condition,” because even now on Wikipedia there are references to the carcinogenic effects of bisphenol A. Wikipedia is constantly changing, so here is the link for the article which is referenced in wikipedia: http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?tool=pmcentrez&artid=1987322
It will be interesting to see what comes of this debate. In the meanwhile, I am all for consumers finding BPA free alternatives to food containers, baby bottles and water bottles.
I believe you spelled “diabeetus” wrong. Or else Wilford Brimley has been lying.
It’s an interesting double standard. When the slightness possibility that human actions might be causing G.W., and going off half cocked in all directions might stop the earth destruction, justifies this. But on the other hand, if there isn’t the strongest possible evidence that BPA causes heart disease, then I won’t be banned. Because it’ll unduly hurt the profits of the Chemical and Plastics Industry. And we can’t have any of that. But do suck in all your CO2, and stop breathing, so to save the world. Sheesh!
#1 BPA is in plastic bottles that are marked 7. One use soda bottles are not the ones in question.
#4 I don’t understand why anyone would ever compare any criticism of the current president to anything related to science. Science doesn’t have an agenda, it just is. If you want to prove something scientifically you have to be able to prove it.
As far as the study. It is true that correlation does not equal causation. All of the evidence is not in on the effects of BPA if there are any at all. I for one am taking the safe route and trying to eliminate BPA from my life as much as possible until new evidence comes in.
This additive causes other additives to get tested for other chemicals which makes the additives that find out they have Chemically Added Heart Disease blame the government for not providing additional additives in order to fund additional studies.
#1 # 5 Soda bottles are made out of Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) see link for details:
http://ncane.com/3pi
Most likely the soda is beginning to age and taste funny, not from stuff leaching in from the bottles themselves: PET monomer is completely used up in the formation of PET, but from degradation of the initial soda contents themselves. Cans also diffuse air into them at a much slower rate than plastics. Be advised that many if not most canning technology uses some form of polymer (plastic) barrier material to keep the food out of contact with the metal, as metals can leach into foods that are stored a long time as well and have negative impacts on people as well.
# 5 Your second paragraph is correct, a link does not mean causation.
I remember from my studies that they used to use PVC for soda bottles, but found the residual monomer in the bottle vinyl chloride was a carcinogen in rats. To get the equal human dosage you had to drink 50 2 liter bottles of soda a day and eat the bottles.
One must be careful in evaluating the risk/benefit of material used in food consumption.
And Bottled Water was supposed to be HEALTHIER THAN MUNICIPAL WATER !!! I guess NOT !!!
hmmm…
Let’s see. Just how does one ingest a large amount of BPA?
By drinking a large amount of bottled sodas.
Which contain a huge amount of sugar.
So what exactly is causing diabetes and CVD?
No doubt these boffins will soon figure out that umbrellas cause rain and we will be able to control the weather.
Firstly, if this is true, it would undoubtedly be a big threat to all plastic users. If its directly affecting people’s health, this should be given utmost priority and should be put to people’s ears so they are aware of the harmful effects.
Yes, this is true. I read a recent article just before this that emphasized on the bad effects of BPA, causing health hazards. Really important to educate people about this.