5 ms·

Exposure to plastics during pregnancy can raise blood pressure

25 points by rustoo 5y ago

DoingIsLearning 5y ago
I always feel these compound descriptions lack intuition for non Chemistry majors. The coumpound described 'Phtalates' is a technically a plasticizer. A lot of plastic structures are naturally brittle, the purpose of Phtalates is to intercalate in the lattice of the plastic structure and give it some flex. So even if you are using Phtalate free plastic, assume that if it has some flex it will likely just have some other chemically similar plasticizer. So as a general precautionery principle avoid plastic all together until we have a better picture of the science around it.
- formichunter 5y ago
  Avoid plastic? Is that even a possibility nowadays?
  - ericd 5y ago
    To some extent. Cotton or wool instead of synthetics. Glass food containers instead of plastic. Wood toys instead of plastic.
    - 1_player 5y ago
      Good luck buying meat or vegetables in a supermarket which isn't wrapped in plastic.
      - ericd 5y ago
        Find a local butcher who wraps in paper? That paper coating may be plastic, though, unless they use waxed. Veggies are often loose at eg Whole Foods. You can get your milk in glass bottles pretty easily. It’s likely easier in Europe, but it’s feasible in at least some parts of the US, depending on where you live. It takes paying attention, but once you adjust your habits, it gets a bit easier. You can probably get a lot of mileage out of just not heating your food in contact with plastic. You’re not going to eliminate all exposure, probably want to focus on the likely highest impact parts.
      - arsome 5y ago
        Most supermarkets sell veggies loose, but even most people avoiding the standard plastic bags will put them in nylon mesh bags instead, not sure what your option there would be, but there's probably some cotton based bag you could find. Meat can usually be bought at larger stores from the butcher counter in butcher paper. However some butcher papers are treated so might be some more research needed three. However many studies that make headlines like this are flawed bunk, so I'm not sure I'd waste my time with such efforts until there's clear consensus.
        netizen-936824 5y ago
        We used to think Teflon and the like were fine, until we found these compounds lasting basically forever in the environment and interacting with proteins. In my opinion, a better default is to avoid when possible although its difficult to escape them everywhere. We are surrounded by plastics, and for good reason. They've done amazing things especially in the medical field.
        nradov 5y ago
        There's pretty solid consensus that phthalates disrupt the endocrine system, particularly testosterone production. https://www.endocrine.org/news-and-advocacy/news-room/2014/reduced-testosterone-tied-to-endocrine-disrupting-chemical-exposure https://www.endocrine.org/news-and-advocacy/news-room/2014/r...
LatteLazy 5y ago
Studies that don't either establish causality or show extreme results should be banned from publication. At this point, we can be pretty confident that everything is "associated" with everything. Further results are just wasted time and energy and are fodder for people to worry about unnecessarily.
- smorgusofborg 5y ago
  If it is showing up in bloodstreams it needed FDA approval. That we can do these studies is an unacceptable regulatory gap. Given enough substances it is only a matter of time until we will eventually be doomed by this incompetence if our incompetence of treating releasing CO2 in any quantity as harmless doesn't doom us first.
  - LatteLazy 5y ago
    I believe you only need FDA approval if you sell something as a medical device/treatment etc. If you sell it as <plastic thing> and some residual chemical ends up in someone's bloodstream, that's fine. This is because millions of chemicals are perpetually floating around in our bloodstreams (and elsewhere). The FDA may issue warnings and bans. But to do so usually requires some evidence something is harmful. This study does NOT provide any evidence of that. Hence it was a total waste of time and energy. Edit: https://www.fda.gov/about-fda/what-we-do https://www.fda.gov/about-fda/what-we-do >The Food and Drug Administration is responsible for protecting the public health by ensuring the safety, efficacy, and security of human and veterinary drugs, biological products, and medical devices; and by ensuring the safety of our nation's food supply, cosmetics, and products that emit radiation. (Goes on to include tobacco and terrorism)
    - smorgusofborg 5y ago
      The FDA evaluates food packaging and optimistically dismisses chemicals entering the consumer. But let's assume they don't, you are saying that given a new chemical added to your bloodstream you want to assume it is safe based on 0 evidence when presented with weak evidence for what it actually does?
satellite2 5y ago
It seems possible that increased exposure to phtalates is linked to better revenue. And better revenue is linked to more stress for the aquisition of the revenue and to increased calories consumption. It seems to me a more likely explanation, especially in Mexico. Not sure wheter the study controlled for BMI but that would be a minimum.
- netizen-936824 5y ago
  I'm not sure I understand. What do you mean by "exposure to phtalates is liked to better revenue"? I searched the linked text for mentions of revenue but was unable to find any.
  - WarOnPrivacy 5y ago
    They're speaking generally about motivations to increase the production and distribution of phthalates.
  - satellite2 5y ago
    Phtalate is essentially a plasticiser found in cookware I have the impression
- nradov 5y ago
  Stress only has a temporary impact on blood pressure. This study looked at longer term trends.

25 points by rustoo 5y ago

I always feel these compound descriptions lack intuition for non Chemistry majors. The coumpound described 'Phtalates' is a technically a plasticizer. A lot of plastic structures are naturally brittle, the purpose of Phtalates is to intercalate in the lattice of the plastic structure and give it some flex. So even if you are using Phtalate free plastic, assume that if it has some flex it will likely just have some other chemically similar plasticizer. So as a general precautionery principle avoid plastic all together until we have a better picture of the science around it.

formichunter 5y ago
Avoid plastic? Is that even a possibility nowadays?
- ericd 5y ago
  To some extent. Cotton or wool instead of synthetics. Glass food containers instead of plastic. Wood toys instead of plastic.
  - 1_player 5y ago
    Good luck buying meat or vegetables in a supermarket which isn't wrapped in plastic.
    - ericd 5y ago
      Find a local butcher who wraps in paper? That paper coating may be plastic, though, unless they use waxed. Veggies are often loose at eg Whole Foods. You can get your milk in glass bottles pretty easily. It’s likely easier in Europe, but it’s feasible in at least some parts of the US, depending on where you live. It takes paying attention, but once you adjust your habits, it gets a bit easier. You can probably get a lot of mileage out of just not heating your food in contact with plastic. You’re not going to eliminate all exposure, probably want to focus on the likely highest impact parts.
    - arsome 5y ago
      Most supermarkets sell veggies loose, but even most people avoiding the standard plastic bags will put them in nylon mesh bags instead, not sure what your option there would be, but there's probably some cotton based bag you could find. Meat can usually be bought at larger stores from the butcher counter in butcher paper. However some butcher papers are treated so might be some more research needed three. However many studies that make headlines like this are flawed bunk, so I'm not sure I'd waste my time with such efforts until there's clear consensus.
      - netizen-936824 5y ago
        We used to think Teflon and the like were fine, until we found these compounds lasting basically forever in the environment and interacting with proteins. In my opinion, a better default is to avoid when possible although its difficult to escape them everywhere. We are surrounded by plastics, and for good reason. They've done amazing things especially in the medical field.
      - nradov 5y ago
        There's pretty solid consensus that phthalates disrupt the endocrine system, particularly testosterone production. https://www.endocrine.org/news-and-advocacy/news-room/2014/reduced-testosterone-tied-to-endocrine-disrupting-chemical-exposure https://www.endocrine.org/news-and-advocacy/news-room/2014/r...

LatteLazy 5y ago

Studies that don't either establish causality or show extreme results should be banned from publication. At this point, we can be pretty confident that everything is "associated" with everything. Further results are just wasted time and energy and are fodder for people to worry about unnecessarily.

smorgusofborg 5y ago
If it is showing up in bloodstreams it needed FDA approval. That we can do these studies is an unacceptable regulatory gap. Given enough substances it is only a matter of time until we will eventually be doomed by this incompetence if our incompetence of treating releasing CO2 in any quantity as harmless doesn't doom us first.
- LatteLazy 5y ago
  I believe you only need FDA approval if you sell something as a medical device/treatment etc. If you sell it as <plastic thing> and some residual chemical ends up in someone's bloodstream, that's fine. This is because millions of chemicals are perpetually floating around in our bloodstreams (and elsewhere). The FDA may issue warnings and bans. But to do so usually requires some evidence something is harmful. This study does NOT provide any evidence of that. Hence it was a total waste of time and energy. Edit: https://www.fda.gov/about-fda/what-we-do https://www.fda.gov/about-fda/what-we-do >The Food and Drug Administration is responsible for protecting the public health by ensuring the safety, efficacy, and security of human and veterinary drugs, biological products, and medical devices; and by ensuring the safety of our nation's food supply, cosmetics, and products that emit radiation. (Goes on to include tobacco and terrorism)
  - smorgusofborg 5y ago
    The FDA evaluates food packaging and optimistically dismisses chemicals entering the consumer. But let's assume they don't, you are saying that given a new chemical added to your bloodstream you want to assume it is safe based on 0 evidence when presented with weak evidence for what it actually does?

satellite2 5y ago

It seems possible that increased exposure to phtalates is linked to better revenue. And better revenue is linked to more stress for the aquisition of the revenue and to increased calories consumption. It seems to me a more likely explanation, especially in Mexico. Not sure wheter the study controlled for BMI but that would be a minimum.

netizen-936824 5y ago
I'm not sure I understand. What do you mean by "exposure to phtalates is liked to better revenue"? I searched the linked text for mentions of revenue but was unable to find any.
- WarOnPrivacy 5y ago
  They're speaking generally about motivations to increase the production and distribution of phthalates.
- satellite2 5y ago
  Phtalate is essentially a plasticiser found in cookware I have the impression
nradov 5y ago
Stress only has a temporary impact on blood pressure. This study looked at longer term trends.