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Plastics: The Sixth Food
Group
Dr. Meschi Ph.D.,
ND, CNC
Laguna Hills, CA
December 2001
Subject: Health Risks in environment
Plastics,
plastics, plastics everywhere. Since the chemical dawn
(Green Revolution) in World War I era the plastics have been
everywhere, and we are just beginning to comprehend how
chemicals in plastic affect and interfere with our health.
Some of these chemicals are:
Phthalates
Phthalates are synthetic chemicals commonly found in food
wraps, inks, adhesives, and vinyl floor coverings, some paints
and off course most plastics used in daily life. Phthalates
are plasticizers used to make plastic products more flexible.
Their effects on human health are increasingly coming into
question of alternative health care providers and the public.
The offspring of female rats exposed to phthalates
demonstrated a variety of abnormalities. “Most striking were
their effects as androgen (male hormone) blockers in male
offspring, which included a reduction of testosterone levels
and abnormalities in a male productive tract.” A higher risk
of miscarriage was observed among women exposed to high levels
of phthalates.
Bisphenol-A
The effects of hormone disrupting chemicals that Leach out of
plastic products has been the center of study at the
University of Missouri for sometimes. Bisphenol-A, an
ingredient in the lining of metal food cans, polycarbonate
water jugs, and dental sealants applied to children’s teeth,
was found to alter the developments of male reproductive
organs in mouse studies using amounts comparable to what
humans currently ingest.*3 Coating children’s teeth with
Bisphenol-A to prevent dental carries is being done by ever
increasing numbers of dentists around the country, meanwhile
researchers in Spain have found these substance can be an
estrogen mimic compound which could cause cancer. Researchers
at Tufts School of Medicine found saliva from bisphenol-A
treated patients to be estrogenic, however American Dental
Association continues to defend the practice.*4
Man
& Mouse
The Prostate glands of male mice were permanently enlarged,
when their mother were exposed to extreme dosage of bisphenol-A
(2 PPB). When doses reached to 20 parts per billion, daily
sperm production was permanently decreased by 20%. This raises
a valid question of relationship between human’s exposure to
plastic chemicals and prostate problems, fertility problems,
birth defects and cancer.
Would
you like some Styrene with your coffee Mam?
Styrofoam cups and meat trays do more than just keeping your
coffee hot and your meat neatly package. Nearly as pervasive
as coffee break itself, white “plastic” or “foam”
styrene cups outgas toxic chemicals into the coffee. As
endocrine disrupters they are increasingly suspected of
contributing to breast cancer, prostate cancer, thyroid and
other glandular problems. One study of fat biopsies from human
subjects conducted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
found styrene residues in 100 percent of the samples tested.
Fat in humans and other mammals serves as a storage sites for
many toxic chemicals which bioaccumulate over time, leaching
out many years later, causing damage to cancer protecting
genes. If more money were put into this area of cancer study
instead of additional ways to use chemotherapy and radiation,
we might make some headway in understanding cancer causation
and prevention. Meat and cheese on styrene trays wrapped in
clear plastic easily absorb lipid-loving chemicals from the
packaging materials. Chemicals from styrene trays and some
brands of plastic wrap easily migrate into foods with a high
fat content. Removing foods from these packaging materials
immediately after purchasing is strongly recommended. As a
ritual it would be wise to substitute Styrofoam cups with
washable ceramic mugs, this is both environmentally friendly
and a good pro-health choice.
Plasticizers
in plastic wrap migrate
Of seven brands tested by Consumer Reports, Reynolds Wrap and
Saran Wrap contained some of the five plasticizers being
tested. Studies indicate some plasticizers migrate into food
at points of contact, even during refrigeration. Some cheese
wrapped plastic was found to contain as high as 50 to 160
parts per million of the adipate plasticizer, DEHA. Waxed
cheese with clear plastic overwrap found to have one to four
parts per million of the common phthalate, DEHP. Consumers may
wish to rewrap store bought cheese with waxed paper, or buy
cheese cut to order at a deli and ask to have it wrapped in
waxed paper.
Microwaveable
plastics
Concerned consumers should avoid using plastic containers and
plastic wrap in the microwave. Although manufacturers imply
safety of the plastic container as “microwave safe”, the
food safety when plastic is heated is a great concern. Dr.
Carlos Sonnenschien of the Tufts University School of Medicine
has been studying the chemical migration from plastics for
over two decades. I strongly recommend substituting lead free
glass or ceramic ware microwave use. He became aware of this
problem when studying blood samples that appeared to have been
contaminated with a substance that caused an estrogenic effect
in the blood cells. After tracking every possible source of
contamination they concluded estrogen Mimicking chemicals were
leaching out of the new variety of plastic vials in which the
blood was stored.
Is
it “white- enamel” or is it simply plastic lined Cans?
An increasing number of foods such as pumpkin, beets, chick
peas and even chopped Clams are packed in plastic lined Cans,
with no label information giving any clue. This can be
shocking to find out that even some organic food producers
such as Muir Glenn “organic” tomatoes are packed in
plastic lined cans. A close inspection of the Muir Glen label
revealed a sentence indicating the contents were “packed in
lead-free white enamel-lined Cans.” And not mentioning
anything about bisphenol-A on the label. An explanation of the
difference between “white-enamel” and plastic lining did
not offer any information from Muir Glen other than they are
aware of the controversy surrounding the issue, and an
statement from the National Food Processors Association’s
position on the bisphenol-A: “most scientific authorities
agree that there is no need for public health concern about
cans lined with epoxy coating to help preserve their contents.
Muir Glen which is now owned by General Mills, indicated that
“enamel” was used “to avoid tinny taste.”
“Plastics,
An important part of your healthy Diet”
An advertisement from the American plastics Council in a
National Geographic, 2000 Magazine, suggests that plastics
could be thought of the as “the Sixth basic food group.”
“Oh, you certainly wouldn’t eat them, but plastic
packaging does help protects our food in many ways,” assures
the ad.
May
be plastic does delays spoilage, however we are indeed eating
plastic chemicals. Unknown to most consumers, many foods leach
chemical from plastic packaging materials and plastic
microwave containers. In addition, children are being exposed
to chemicals from their plastic baby bottles, and teething
rings to plastic toys. Perhaps plastic truly has become the
sixth basic food group after all.
A
flurry of studies shows “the effects of Phthalates as an
endocrine disrupter on the male reproductive system.
Phthalates do their damage as anti-androgens, by blocking
testosterone, and therefore inducing feminization symptoms in
male lab rats.
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