5 ms·

I've personally become concerned recently with the abundance of BPA and it's effect on the endocrine system of men. Between disposable water bottles, aluminum c

I've personally become concerned recently with the abundance of BPA and it's effect on the endocrine system of men. Between disposable water bottles, aluminum can liners, and food stored in plastic containers, there's a huge amount of exposure to this endocrine disruptor. The article doesn't mention it in particular, but I think it's worth being cautious over.

eternauta3k 9y ago
Got any links to research?
- mgberlin 9y ago
  The wikipedia article is extensive and well cited: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bisphenol_A https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bisphenol_A
corpMaverick 9y ago
TIL about BPA. http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/expert-answers/bpa/faq-20058331 http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-he...
- secstate 9y ago
  My favorite part about the BPA fiasco is how it is mitigated on an industrial level by introducing BPS. BPS is totally safe for food-grade products because it's more stable at high temperatures. Also, it hasn't been shown to be actively deleterious to our health. And as in law, food-grade plastics are innocent until proven guilty. So done with industrial food ...
jostmey 9y ago
I don't think it is juts about BPA, but a whole myriad of "chemicals" that we're surrounding ourselves with each day.
- accountyaccount 9y ago
  There are even chemicals in our brains!
  - jostmey 9y ago
    I put the word "chemicals" in quotation marks because, of course, everything is a chemical. I just wanted to point out that we shouldn't pick just one chemical (e.g. BPA) and heap all the blame onto it. As a society, we have to be concerned about the potential dangers of every synthetic chemical
    - AstralStorm 9y ago
      If it is some sort of chemical, it was introduced around 70s (later than most plastics) and is still in widespread and increasing use. Few such targets.
      - mrob 9y ago
        BPA in plastics is polymerized, but BPA in thermal paper is free molecules, which are easier absorbed. Thermal paper didn't become widespread until the 70s, so BPA is still a possible candidate.
      - bencollier49 9y ago
        Or the chemical had to reach a threshold concentration in the environment and/or our bodies before having a noticeable effect, which could have taken 20 years..
    - accountyaccount 9y ago
      I realize, you know, just being a jerk on the internet.
    - brownbat 9y ago
      > potential dangers of every synthetic chemical I wouldn't put too much importance on the synthetic / natural distinction. Lead, tobacco, and various radioactive elements (uranium, radium, thorium, and radon) are all perfectly natural. If you were harmed by chemicals in the last century, it was probably one of them. There are also thousands of lab-made chemicals that never make the news because they're just not harmful. The UK-based non-profit Sense About Science has produced some literature trying to combat what they call "chemophobia," the fear of man-made chemicals: http://www.compoundchem.com/2014/05/19/natural-vs-man-made-chemicals-dispelling-misconceptions/ http://www.compoundchem.com/2014/05/19/natural-vs-man-made-c... Scientific American has tried to debunk myths about synthetic chemicals as well: https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/guest-blog/natural-vs-synthetic-chemicals-is-a-gray-matter/ https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/guest-blog/natural-vs-s... I mean, yeah, don't drink DDT. But don't try to make your drinking water "more natural" either, thank your city for treating it with a little bit of synthetic (and toxic in large doses) chlorine, and enjoy a day free of all-natural additives like cholera.
microcolonel 9y ago
For what it's worth, the limited research on that shows a tenuous relationship, and the reduction in sperm count is not apparently occurring in the same way in non-western countries which are exposed to as much (if not more) Bisphenol A. In addition, the analysis appears to deal with the mid 1970s onward, whereas Bisphenol A has been used commercially to cure resins and plastics since 1957, with a quick uptake in usage. We would have to look at the trend further back to have a lede on that, because the recent clinical data are not sufficient to support the claim that normal Bisphenol A exposure (and this is assuming it increased dramatically over this period) can be linked directly with a fifty to sixty per cent reduction in sperm count and/or quality. There are studies linking overweight and obesity to reduced sperm count, and overweight/obesity rates have increased dramatically and steadily over the measured period of time. Unfortunately, this meta analysis did not appear to address these factors. All of that said, Bisphenol A is very risky stuff, we should be very careful with the amount of it in the environment and our bodies.
- rubicon33 9y ago
  What do you mean when you say that non-western countries are "exposed" to BPA as much, or more, than the US? There is a large difference between merely touching a product that has BPA in it and consuming BPA. Plasticizers in general are fat soluble and dissolve from a container into food quickly when heated. Which is why you shouldn't reheat anything, especially fatty foods, in plastic containers. In the West we re-heat everything in plastic containers. I didn't think this was as big of a thing in non-western countries.
  - microcolonel 9y ago
    > In the West we re-heat everything in plastic containers. I didn't think this was as big of a thing in non-western countries. I live in the West and I do not have a recent memory of anyone reheating anything in a plastic container or treated can. I think I saw somebody heat up one of those Kraft Dinner individual portion cups once. How many plastic containers are even considered microwave safe?. I know there are things like TV dinners. I would think the more likely vector would be drink cans, and maybe laminated food cans after that. I see receipt paper mentioned a lot, but it's hard to tell if they mention that just for show, or because it's actually an important form of exposure. And as you mentioned, plasticizers are fat soluble; most canned beverages (aside coconut water) are not fatty, and most canned food isn't fatty either (because they don't want the fats to go rancid from the oxygen in the headspace), so I'm not sure how much leeching actually goes on with those vectors.
mjmj 9y ago
Completely agree and to that end I try my best to avoid eating, drinking or storing consumables in any plastics (I just don't trust them), which is really hard. Especially avoiding heating or reheating anything in plastic.
- rubicon33 9y ago
  There was an excellent video/documentary that I watched a while back, in which a woman spent a month COMPLETELY avoiding plastics. Sadly, the BPA levels in her blood did not drop significantly. It seems that even if YOU don't come into contact with these chemicals, chances are your food already has. It informed me that if I really wanted to avoid plasticizers, I could never eat out, and would likely need to purchase my food from organic farmer's markets. A tough bill to swallow.
  - manmal 9y ago
    And the alternative is.. taking estrogen blockers?
    - AstralStorm 9y ago
      Especially dosing boys with them. /s You have no idea what kind of harm this could do, BPA being the least of the worries in that case.
      - manmal 9y ago
        Bodybuilders often take estrogen blockers (eg Indol-3-Carbinol), they don't seem to share your concerns.
cameldrv 9y ago
If you're specifically worried about BPA, perhaps a larger exposure is handling cash register receipts. Don't take em if you don't need em, and wash your hands before you eat anything if you do need to handle them.
- manmal 9y ago
  That might explain why I've watched almost all newcomer cashiers in our local supermarket gain weight quickly after starting their job. Of course, the stress might also be to blame.
- jxramos 9y ago
  whoa, I never thought about chemical contact from receipts. Would love to see things go the way of Square where my itemized receipt is just emailed to me.
- sumedh 9y ago
  > perhaps a larger exposure is handling cash register receipts. Don't take em if you don't need em That sounds a but vague. Can you please post some links where I can read about this?
- chris1993 9y ago
  BPA is apparently easily absorbed through the skin. For example: http://blogs.edf.org/health/2014/10/23/more-than-skin-deep-have-we-underestimated-the-role-of-dermal-exposures-to-bpa/ http://blogs.edf.org/health/2014/10/23/more-than-skin-deep-h...

eternauta3k 9y ago

Got any links to research?

mgberlin 9y ago
The wikipedia article is extensive and well cited: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bisphenol_A https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bisphenol_A

corpMaverick 9y ago

TIL about BPA. http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/expert-answers/bpa/faq-20058331 http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-he...

secstate 9y ago
My favorite part about the BPA fiasco is how it is mitigated on an industrial level by introducing BPS. BPS is totally safe for food-grade products because it's more stable at high temperatures. Also, it hasn't been shown to be actively deleterious to our health. And as in law, food-grade plastics are innocent until proven guilty. So done with industrial food ...

jostmey 9y ago

I don't think it is juts about BPA, but a whole myriad of "chemicals" that we're surrounding ourselves with each day.

accountyaccount 9y ago
There are even chemicals in our brains!
- jostmey 9y ago
  I put the word "chemicals" in quotation marks because, of course, everything is a chemical. I just wanted to point out that we shouldn't pick just one chemical (e.g. BPA) and heap all the blame onto it. As a society, we have to be concerned about the potential dangers of every synthetic chemical
  - AstralStorm 9y ago
    If it is some sort of chemical, it was introduced around 70s (later than most plastics) and is still in widespread and increasing use. Few such targets.
    - mrob 9y ago
      BPA in plastics is polymerized, but BPA in thermal paper is free molecules, which are easier absorbed. Thermal paper didn't become widespread until the 70s, so BPA is still a possible candidate.
    - bencollier49 9y ago
      Or the chemical had to reach a threshold concentration in the environment and/or our bodies before having a noticeable effect, which could have taken 20 years..
  - accountyaccount 9y ago
    I realize, you know, just being a jerk on the internet.
  - brownbat 9y ago
    > potential dangers of every synthetic chemical I wouldn't put too much importance on the synthetic / natural distinction. Lead, tobacco, and various radioactive elements (uranium, radium, thorium, and radon) are all perfectly natural. If you were harmed by chemicals in the last century, it was probably one of them. There are also thousands of lab-made chemicals that never make the news because they're just not harmful. The UK-based non-profit Sense About Science has produced some literature trying to combat what they call "chemophobia," the fear of man-made chemicals: http://www.compoundchem.com/2014/05/19/natural-vs-man-made-chemicals-dispelling-misconceptions/ http://www.compoundchem.com/2014/05/19/natural-vs-man-made-c... Scientific American has tried to debunk myths about synthetic chemicals as well: https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/guest-blog/natural-vs-synthetic-chemicals-is-a-gray-matter/ https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/guest-blog/natural-vs-s... I mean, yeah, don't drink DDT. But don't try to make your drinking water "more natural" either, thank your city for treating it with a little bit of synthetic (and toxic in large doses) chlorine, and enjoy a day free of all-natural additives like cholera.

microcolonel 9y ago

For what it's worth, the limited research on that shows a tenuous relationship, and the reduction in sperm count is not apparently occurring in the same way in non-western countries which are exposed to as much (if not more) Bisphenol A. In addition, the analysis appears to deal with the mid 1970s onward, whereas Bisphenol A has been used commercially to cure resins and plastics since 1957, with a quick uptake in usage. We would have to look at the trend further back to have a lede on that, because the recent clinical data are not sufficient to support the claim that normal Bisphenol A exposure (and this is assuming it increased dramatically over this period) can be linked directly with a fifty to sixty per cent reduction in sperm count and/or quality. There are studies linking overweight and obesity to reduced sperm count, and overweight/obesity rates have increased dramatically and steadily over the measured period of time. Unfortunately, this meta analysis did not appear to address these factors. All of that said, Bisphenol A is very risky stuff, we should be very careful with the amount of it in the environment and our bodies.

rubicon33 9y ago
What do you mean when you say that non-western countries are "exposed" to BPA as much, or more, than the US? There is a large difference between merely touching a product that has BPA in it and consuming BPA. Plasticizers in general are fat soluble and dissolve from a container into food quickly when heated. Which is why you shouldn't reheat anything, especially fatty foods, in plastic containers. In the West we re-heat everything in plastic containers. I didn't think this was as big of a thing in non-western countries.
- microcolonel 9y ago
  > In the West we re-heat everything in plastic containers. I didn't think this was as big of a thing in non-western countries. I live in the West and I do not have a recent memory of anyone reheating anything in a plastic container or treated can. I think I saw somebody heat up one of those Kraft Dinner individual portion cups once. How many plastic containers are even considered microwave safe?. I know there are things like TV dinners. I would think the more likely vector would be drink cans, and maybe laminated food cans after that. I see receipt paper mentioned a lot, but it's hard to tell if they mention that just for show, or because it's actually an important form of exposure. And as you mentioned, plasticizers are fat soluble; most canned beverages (aside coconut water) are not fatty, and most canned food isn't fatty either (because they don't want the fats to go rancid from the oxygen in the headspace), so I'm not sure how much leeching actually goes on with those vectors.

mjmj 9y ago

Completely agree and to that end I try my best to avoid eating, drinking or storing consumables in any plastics (I just don't trust them), which is really hard. Especially avoiding heating or reheating anything in plastic.

rubicon33 9y ago
There was an excellent video/documentary that I watched a while back, in which a woman spent a month COMPLETELY avoiding plastics. Sadly, the BPA levels in her blood did not drop significantly. It seems that even if YOU don't come into contact with these chemicals, chances are your food already has. It informed me that if I really wanted to avoid plasticizers, I could never eat out, and would likely need to purchase my food from organic farmer's markets. A tough bill to swallow.
- manmal 9y ago
  And the alternative is.. taking estrogen blockers?
  - AstralStorm 9y ago
    Especially dosing boys with them. /s You have no idea what kind of harm this could do, BPA being the least of the worries in that case.
    - manmal 9y ago
      Bodybuilders often take estrogen blockers (eg Indol-3-Carbinol), they don't seem to share your concerns.

cameldrv 9y ago

If you're specifically worried about BPA, perhaps a larger exposure is handling cash register receipts. Don't take em if you don't need em, and wash your hands before you eat anything if you do need to handle them.

manmal 9y ago
That might explain why I've watched almost all newcomer cashiers in our local supermarket gain weight quickly after starting their job. Of course, the stress might also be to blame.
jxramos 9y ago
whoa, I never thought about chemical contact from receipts. Would love to see things go the way of Square where my itemized receipt is just emailed to me.
sumedh 9y ago
> perhaps a larger exposure is handling cash register receipts. Don't take em if you don't need em That sounds a but vague. Can you please post some links where I can read about this?
chris1993 9y ago
BPA is apparently easily absorbed through the skin. For example: http://blogs.edf.org/health/2014/10/23/more-than-skin-deep-have-we-underestimated-the-role-of-dermal-exposures-to-bpa/ http://blogs.edf.org/health/2014/10/23/more-than-skin-deep-h...