Health Canada is expected to designate bisphenol A as a dangerous substance today. That's the stuff in hard plastic (like baby bottles and sippy cups--for crying out loud!--and Nalgene bottles) that has been found to increase the growth of some cancers, even at low doses. Reports also raise concern that "fetuses, infants and children exposed to BPA may be at increased risk for early puberty and prostate and breast cancer." The toxin shows up in electronics, other food and drink containers, and the liners of many metal cans as well.In fact, most major Canadian retailers (including Walmart Canada, Canadian Tire, Sears, Zellers and The Bay) are pulling all products containing BPA off their shelves.
Just a year ago, I read that Nalgene bottles are the absolute safest because they are so non-reactive that they are used in chemistry. Now they're so dangerous that Nalgene is stopping production and they will all be taken off the shelves?! Jeepers creepers.
The packaging industry, though, "warns that a sudden ban on BPA could have a devastating economic impact, forcing people out of work in a number of industries." So, by all means, continue to expose infants and the general population (as well as workers in these industries) to toxic substances that encourage cancer growth. We can't have public health and safety jeopardizing the economy, can we?
I know I'm being snarky and reductionist. It's just that with this brouhaha coming on the heels of yesterday's announcement that Vitamins A, E and beta-carotene (which were proclaimed as powerful, potentially life-saving antioxidants a year ago) increase mortality, not longetivity... well, I'm feeling more than a little disillusioned with industry and media at the moment.
(By the way, check out Kleen Kanteen or Sigg products for a safer and more environmentally-friendly alternative to plastic water bottles.)
5 comments:
Yes it's true that bisphelon is a danger substance by this many items are made like shelves, cup and etc. While surfing online I have found some new and good kind of Shelves which will be helpful top us for our daily collection just check it out to know more.
I haven't taken a good look at the BPA findings yet, so here's my take on vitamins. There are a lot of things to keep in mind before believing the blanket statement that vitamins are bad. Like the fact that the prior health of participants wasn't factored in. In the limited sphere of "the people I know", the ones taking vitamins regularly are the ones with other issues - heart, diabetes, high blood pressure, cancer... So, were the vitamins the cause of early mortality, or were they present because of other issues?
I'd wait for a study with proper controls before getting too disillusioned. Good Grief. Look at what being married to a scientist did to me!
Thanks for your perspective, Jennifer. I've heard it said that statistics (and studies) can be manipulated to say whatever you want them to say, and I think that's probably true.
While I don't have the kind of knowledge needed to determine the integrity of the study, I get frustrated with the media circus that seems to hype everything as either a miracle or certain death.
Regarding the vitamins, though... I heard an interview with Michael Pollan in which he says that vitamins (and other nutrients) don't seem to have the same benefits when they are isolated from the whole foods they from come from. That makes sense to me!
Hey Mel, I think they sell Kleen Kanteen at our local market downtown... is that true, do you know?
Yep, that's true! (And at Sequioa as well.) You can get them with sippy cup lids, too.
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