Plasticizer Bisphenol-A damages the health

Plasticizers in food and packaging: Bisphenol A threatens humans and animals

08/06/2014

Several studies indicate that the chemical softener substance bisphenol A (BPA) makes animals and humans infertile. Thus, it was observed that since the massive use of the chemical substance more and more men became fertile. In baby bottles, the hormone-like substance was already banned. Regardless, however, many other plastics contain bisphenol-A.

Numerous studies found that bisphenol A dissolves from the products and thus enters the human organism. It has been proven that the chemical behaves similarly to the female sex hormone estrogen. This can lead to disturbances in reproduction. The health consequences of this "everyday chemical" are not conclusively assessable until today. But points out: „BPA harms humans and animals alike.“

Warning but no blanket ban
Recently, the Federal Environment Agency issued a warning. „Although the data are not sufficient, the available information is sufficient to restrict the use of certain products with bisphenol-A. A nationwide ban was not implemented despite the warning of many environmentalists.

The chemical is found almost in all packaging of everyday life; in yogurt cups, vegetable wrappers or shopping bags. The industry uses BPA as a plasticizer or stabilizer. From the packaging, BPA dissolves and slides into the food. In the body of a human or animal, it acts like a female hormone.

Diabetes, cancer and infertility
Various research has shown that the hormone can cause developmental disorders, neurological damage, male infertility and cancer. Physicians also believe that bisphenol-A also increases the risk of cancer and diabetes.

Since 2011, baby bottles in Germany may not contain BPA. Nevertheless, the chemical is found everywhere in everyday life. If plastics come into contact with the food, they are contaminated. Especially affected are interior coatings in plastic bottles and cans or packaging material for fruits and vegetables.

Absorption through consumption, breath and skin
Plasticizers are not only absorbed via foods. The hormone substance can also penetrate into us via the respiratory air and skin. „BPA can dissolve out of the plastics, in the surrounding medium z. As drinks or foods occur and then absorbed by humans“, says Andreas Gies of the Federal Environment Agency. Often BPA is on receipts and receipts. These stain with sweat and thus pass through the skin into the body.

However, a general ban - which seems to be desirable in the interests of consumers - is likely to take some time, not least because of the strong influence of the plastic lobby in the EU, or in doubt, until even more serious consequences of the BPA become known , Scientists assume that BPA has a direct effect on the hormone receptors and thus is harmful even at low doses. In larger doses the organism can recognize the penetrated substance, in smaller doses not.

The spokesman for the Federal Environment Agency said that as early as the 1930s it was known that BPA works like estrogen. BPA has a detrimental effect especially on the development of the sexual organs the psyche. Highly endangered are living things that are still growing. In this phase of life, the hormonal control is assigned a special role.

Masculinization, feminization and hermaphroditism
„Manifestation, feminization and hermaphroditism could be the effects“. That could Werner Kloas of „Leibniz Institute for Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries“ in amphibian researches. „Particularly hormonally active substances influence repro- duction in environmentally relevant concentrations. They change the sexual differentiation (feminization, masculinization, hermaphroditic), gametogenesis (sperm and egg cell production), courtship behavior and development (thyroid inhibitors, thyroid hormone analogues).“

Studies with clawed frogs showed that the courtship of the male frog changed due to the chemical load. The female no longer recognized the trie call. As a result, the reproduction was severely disturbed and even stopped. In male fish, the hormone substance produced that these oocytes carried beside cells with sperm in the testes.

Ninety-five percent of the children had BPA
People have long had BPA in their bodies. Researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health investigated the effects of BPA on 244 mothers and their children in the Cincinnati area of ​​the US. Scientists detected BPA in more than 85 percent of mothers' urine samples and detected the dangerous chemical in over 96 percent of children.

The „Chem-Trust Diabetes Report“ showed that mice that were contaminated with BPA even before birth later showed a significant overweight. Therefore, researchers assume that bisphenol A shifts the balance of metabolism, so the appetite control out of control. As a result, those affected „more hungry“ or eating longer than they would have to. Another theory is that the metabolism is already shifted during maturation in the womb.

Although there are alternatives, the industry is sticking to the use of BPA. Because this substance has proven to be reliable in everyday life and is also cheap. And because the lobby of the manufacturers is powerful, come from the side of politics only a few attempts to prevent the spread a stop. (Sb)