Bisphenol-A, commonly referred to as BPA, is a synthetic carbon compound present in consumer plastic products. These products include water bottles, food containers, canned foods coated with protective linings, and shopping receipts. According to the CDC, 93% of Americans have traces of BPA chemicals present in their urine samples. This has recently attracted attention in the media because BPA is linked with a plethora of potential health hazards; such as the development of cancer, diabetes, asthma, and disruptions in the endocrine system. Scientists currently focus on the estrogenic activity caused by levels of BPA chemicals found in consumer plastic products, and are concerned about the potential negative effects on human health. This concern is based studies which have shown disruptions in the reproductive and endocrine systems of laboratory rats (Vinas and Watson 2013). The estrogenic properties of the compound BPA were first discovered by British medical researcher Edward Charles Dodds in the 1930s. Dodds aimed to create a drug that could be used to treat problems relating to pregnancy symptoms, menopause, menstruation, and the prevention of miscarriages. Although BPA was not successful in the medical industry, around the same time, chemists in Switzerland and the United States discovered that BPA could be made into epoxy resins. This new discovery quickly became popular in the industrial production industries for uses such as piping, adhesives, and protective
War propaganda is a tactic often used throughout history in order to increase nationalism and involve citizens in war efforts. World War Two was no different when it came to the use of this propaganda. The United States specifically used all sorts of propaganda against the Axis powers. In particular, the United States targeted Japan with loads of racially charged wartime propaganda, and Japan did the same thing back at the United States. Two countries with vastly different customs and looks were quickly able to make propaganda that made the other side look like awful people to their own citizens. John Dower outlines this sort of propaganda in his novel War Without Mercy. In this novel, Dower goes over how propaganda is made effectively and
Due to lack of economical transportation prior to 1882, mining operations were restricted in Butte, MT. The ore had to be hauled by wagon to Corinne, Utah, sent by railroad to San Francisco and from there by ship to Swansea, Wales in order to be smelted. Due to the expense and time of smelting, Marcus Daly built his own smelter in Anaconda. Later, Marcus Daly developed his own railroad; the Butte, Anaconda and Pacific Railroad, to reduce the cost of railroad companies charging him to ship ore to Anaconda.
The overall food contamination by Bisphenol A is unknown, but the nutrition/ health impact of this chemical is an important subject to be discussed for all individuals. The main aim of one study recently analyzed was to assess the reproductive impact of BPA leached from regularly available polycarbonate plastic containers. The bottles specifically chosen for testing were those that were used by children. The migration of BPA occurs in polycarbonate plastics (i.e. water bottles and baby bottles). Toxicology reports show society the importance of evaluating these products before purchase and consumption as a consumer. For a particular experiment, researchers used Daphnia Magna, a small flea that cleans and absorbs particles that infect the solution they are placed in, and bred them in the polycarbonate containers. A control group was created using water bottles without the infection of these creatures. A GC-MS machine to detect the level of BPA released by each polycarbonate plastic then evaluated the water. An increase in the reproduction of BPA was detected when the Daphnia Magna were bred inside the container. Although these organisms effected the leaching of Bisphenol A, the GC-MS was able to detect, through the control group, that BPA is released without DM. An Eco toxicological effect was observed through all of this testing, and provided evidence to substantiate the fact that Bisphenol A is leached from polycarbonate plastics. The BPA was further analyzed in the Daphnia
Frequent reports in the mainstream news media present conflicting evidence about the safety of human exposure to bisphenol-A (BPA), a chemical commonly found in a variety of consumer products. Some groups claim that exposure to even low doses of BPA -- which is considered to be an endocrine-disrupting compound (EDC) -- leads to ailments including cancer and diabetes, and can trigger autism and other neurobehavioral disorders. The opposing viewpoint holds that each exposure is so minimal that the lifetime risk to human health does not warrant a ban on what is otherwise considered to be a commercially useful chemical. An examination of the science on both sides of the controversy leads to the suggestion that exposure to BPA through consumer
BPA is an industrial chemical used to make plastics. BPA stands for bisphenol A. BPA Is used in a wide assortment of products from packaged food to dishes. FDA approved BPA for use in the 1960s.1 The effect of BPA on human health has been highly disputed by FDA and scientists. It is estimated that over 90% of the United States populous is exposed to BPA on a daily basis (Brennen, 2017). To fully understand the ramifications of this chemical an examination of research is required.
is a difficult chemical to escape -- it's in so many plastic products from water bottles and sippy cups to contact lenses and toys. Controversial studies linking BPA to health risks, particularly reproductive risks, prompted companies to go the "BPA-free" route. But new research from the University of California - Los Angeles (UCLA) Health Sciences says not so fast: BPS (Bisphenol S), a replacement for BPA that technically makes products BPA-free, is probably not safe either.
Personal health – water’s very often bottled in #1 PET or PETE (polyethylene terephthalate) bottles which may or may not leach a known carcinogen into the water known as DEHA. Experts have, as a result of numerous studies, agreed that you should not re-use #1 plastic bottles at all. Plastics numbered 3,6 and 7 however are even worse. This is due to them containing Bisphenol A or BPA which is thought to cause neurological and behavioural problems in unborn children and children of infant age. BPA actually mimics the female hormone estrogen, which can have a number of detrimental effects such as brain cancer, breast cancer and even prostate cancer. It’s also reported to
In the European Community the total amount used in fragrances has been reported to be 110 tons/a. As a result of its inherently low biodegradability MK has been detected in the aquatic environment (surface water, sediments, edible fish). Moreover, it has been shown that MK concentrates in human fatty tissue and breast milk, indicating that humans are constantly exposed (Schmeiser, Gminski, Mersch-Sundermann, 2001). According to the US national library of medicine, a large number of industrial and consumer products contain phthalate as a plasticizer, and phthalate may be a menace to health including disorders of the male reproductive tract and breast and testicular cancers. It has also been linked to reproductive effects (decreased sperm counts, early breast development, birth defects) and liver and kidney damage (Mercola,
As a result, evidence was proven that the lab animals tested with the endocrine-disrupting chemicals, distinctively increased in size and weight. From the University of California, Bruce Blumberg was one of the first scientists to notice a link between the disrupting chemicals and obesity in the lab animals; resulting in his theory to be that “obsesogens” were causing the animals to gain fat. Obsesogens are classified as common chemicals found in our environment and are endocrine-disruptors that appear to be most dangerous when taken in small quantities. From the University of Missouri, Fred Vom Saal was researching on the effects of Bisphenol-A (an endocrine-disruptor) and injected them with a small dose of BPA equivalent to the amount a human would ingest in a day. Results have shown that it had caused reproductive abnormalities of weight gain. From the U.S National Institute for Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), Retha Newbold studied the health effects on D.E.S, which is a hormone replacement drug, have found to be linked with ovarian cancer. Newbold’s research experiment was to inject the rats with D.E.S, and results significantly showed the animals became obese due to the chemical. All the experiments conducted, had shown that the endocrine disrupting chemical did indeed include a link to the obesity in the lab
To put simply, plastic is composed of alike molecules, such as carbon or hydrogen, put together in a chain. These chains are called polymers, which is just a repeating pattern of chemical mixtures. What many are unaware of is the toxic chemicals in these chains. Plastic contains Bisphenol A(BPA), which is a reproductive, developmental, and systemic toxicant, as well as an endocrine-disruptor. Even when something is BPA-free, it is not any safer than BPA, as a study has shown it has “the same or greater hormone-disrupting effects of BPA” (Terry 20). Lead and cadmium are also embedded within, which damages the nervous system, kidney, blood, and brain, and is a human carcinogen (Terry 21). These chemicals, over time, have the ability to seep into
The endocrine system is a biological system of complex organisms that involves sending chemical signals from one gland to another part of the body through blood. The endocrine system involves the use of several chemicals produced in the body at different parts sent to other parts of the body to trigger function of that that organ. It is a well synchronized circus of chemicals in the body to communicate the needs from one organ to the another for the efficient functioning and reproduction of the organism. Scientifically, endocrinology is defined as a study of endocrine glands and their secretions [12]. The human body has a lot of hormones that are released into the blood. In the following paper, endocrinology will be mainly addressed from a toxicological perspective. The toxicological impact of endocrine disrupting chemicals, specifically, Bisphenol A (BPA) will be discussed, following an introduction of the general endocrine system and its normal physiology.
Marijuana has been a tremendous on-going legal debate over the last few centuries in America. In the last few decades marijuana use in America has been on the rise, especially among young adults. Marijuana comes from the hemp plant known as "Cannabis Sativa". In 2727 B.C, the Chinese were the first to document the use of marijuana for medicine. Chinese would use the seeds of the hemp plant for food (Borges, 2014, Ch. 15). Marijuana has been known for a lot more than just getting high though. In the past it’s been used for fabric, food, incense, cloth, and much more. In the last few decades America has come up with a variety of nicknames for the Marijuana. Some common nicknames include Cannabis, Skunk, Ganja, Maryjane, Refeer, bud and tree. Many of these street names arrived from the leafy appearance and its vigorous smell.
Chemical such as bisphenol A (BPA), triclosan (TCS) and triclocarban (TCC) are often be found in our food, water, and personal products. BPA is used to produce polycarbonate plastics, epoxy resins and in the manufacturing process of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) organosols (Paloma, Quesada, & Nadal, 2015). Water bottles, food storage containers, baby bottles and other products are designed using polycarbonate (Cao, et al., 2011). BPA is also used in the coating of metal food and beverage cans and metal lids in glass jars (Cao, et al., 2011). Previous studies have determined that BPA can be released into food or drink in hot, acidic and basic conditions. It is estimated, that two-thirds of BPA in adults comes from dietary source (Arbuckle, et al., 2015).
In experimental animal studies, prenatal and postnatal exposure to low-dose BPA was reported to alter the hormone levels in mice and rats, but the data are not consistent (overview in Table 7). Gamez et al. reported that low-dose BPA exposure lead to increases in serum LH and FSH levels in young Wistar rats (Gamez et al., 2014). On the contrary, in one study using adult Wistar rats, Wisniewski, et al. found that BPA exposure at doses of 5 mg/kg and 25 mg/kg reduced the total and daily sperm production and also decreased serum T, LH, and FSH levels and increased the E2 level (Wisniewski, et al., 2015). In two studies using SD rats, one reported decreases in serum T and E2 levels with postnatal low-dose BPA exposure (Gurmeet, et al.,
Since its mass-production, plastics had become a part of everyday living because of its versatility. The usage of plastic ranged from food containers to electronic components and humanity had become so reliant on plastic that it is unaware of the potential downsides of this versatile material, particularly the chemicals in the plastic that could be potentially harmful to humans. Bisphenol-A, or BPA, is one of such chemicals which is used in resins to line containers and one of the most notable sources of BPA is plastic bottles, a widely used liquid container that can be found just about anywhere in industrialized societies (Raloff 2007). However, there was debate on whether or not BPA is harmful and government agencies had reported that the low amount of BPA in plastic containers was not a major threat to human health thus the general public should not be overly concerned (Raloff 2007). However, scientists and researchers were looking into the properties of BPA through various experiments, uncovering negative effects of the chemical’s exposure, and unveiling to the general public about how the widespread use of plastics in daily life could potentially affect them.