4 ms·
> I strongly suspect BPA-free plastics have similar endocrine effects Based on what? BPA is the monomer which makes up polycarbonate plastic, and it's a simple
by shawnz 4y ago
> I strongly suspect BPA-free plastics have similar endocrine effects
Based on what? BPA is the monomer which makes up polycarbonate plastic, and it's a simple molecule which has been known to be an estrogen analogue for nearly 100 years. Other kinds of plastics besides polycarbonate are made from much different kinds of monomers which have no structural similarity to BPA, so why should we assume that the risk carries over? The mechanism that makes BPA dangerous has nothing to do with the fact that it can be turned into a plastic.
- whalesalad 4y agoBPA was banned, so they tweaked it into BPB, BPS, BPF, and BPAF, etc... it's a game of whack-a-mole. They're all terrible for us.
- shawnz 4y agoSure, but most plastics aren't made with any kind of bisphenol related compounds at all.
- Qem 4y agoThey are added afterwards as additives, to improve mechanical properties of plastics, even those that don't use BP(X) as feedstock for synthesis.
- s1artibartfast 4y agoI have some experience in plastic molding and I'm not sure what you mean. They're either part of the feedstock or not.
- tdehnel 4y agoThe person you’re exchanging with is an ideologue.
- Dig1t 4y agoThis exact thing is discussed in detail in the book OP referenced, it's excellent BTW. The group of chemicals known as phthalates are added to a huge range of plastics we use at home every day and there is a ton of evidence suggesting that these chemicals are endocrine disruptors. They seem to all have very similar effects WRT endocrine disruption, often substituted for one another when one is found to be bad. This leads to the whack-a-mole effect described by a sibling comment. Products can be listed as "BPA free" but still have these endocrine disrupting chemicals in them.