Chemicals in Our Food, and Bodies (estrogen) by NICHOLAS D. KRISTOF

[ensho]

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/08/opinion/08kristof.html?_r=1&em


Your body is probably home to a chemical called bisphenol A, or BPA. It’s a synthetic estrogen that United States factories now use in everything from plastics to epoxies — to the tune of six pounds per American per year. That’s a lot of estrogen.

More than 92 percent of Americans have BPA in their urine, and scientists have linked it — though not conclusively — to everything from breast cancer to obesity, from attention deficit disorder to genital abnormalities in boys and girls alike.

Now it turns out it’s in our food.

Consumer Reports magazine tested an array of brand-name canned foods for a report in its December issue and found BPA in almost all of them. The magazine says that relatively high levels turned up, for example, in Progresso vegetable soup, Campbell’s condensed chicken noodle soup, and Del Monte Blue Lake cut green beans.

The magazine also says it found BPA in the canned liquid version of Similac Advance infant formula (but not in the powdered version) and in canned Nestlé Juicy Juice (but not in the juice boxes). The BPA in the food probably came from an interior coating used in many cans.

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But more than 200 other studies have shown links between low doses of BPA and adverse health effects, according to the Breast Cancer Fund, which is trying to ban the chemical from food and beverage containers.

-snip-

Last year, Canada became the first country to conclude that BPA can be hazardous to humans, and Massachusetts issued a public health advisory in August warning against any exposure to BPA by pregnant or breast-feeding women or by children under the age of 2.
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go ahead, keep you head in the sand

[RedEarth]

1. and...... Two-year-olds at risk from 'gender-bending' chemicals, report says

Two-year-olds at risk from 'gender-bending' chemicals, report says• EU council urged to look at cumulative effect
• Campaigners fear controls will not be tough enough
Buzz up! Digg it Owen Bowcott guardian.co.uk, Friday 6 November 2009 21.27 GMT larger | smaller Article history

Two-year-old children are being exposed to dangerous levels of hormone-disrupting chemicals in domestic products such as rubber clogs and sun creams, according to an EU investigation being studied by the government.

The 327-page report says that while risks from "anti-androgen" and "oestrogen-like" substances in individual items have been recognised, the cumulative impact of such chemicals, particularly on boys, is being ignored.

The EU's environment council of ministers is due to agree on a regulatory approach to the use of so-called "gender-bender" compounds before Christmas. On Monday, EU officials will try to work out a strategy for creating risk assessments of products causing concerns. Environmental campaigners fear controls will favour industry and not be sufficiently robust.

Phthalates, one of the main anti-androgen chemicals, which are used as softeners in soap, rubber shoes, bath mats and soft toys, have been blamed for blocking the action of testosterone in the womb and are alleged to cause low sperm counts, high rates of testicular cancer and malformations of the sexual organs.

Research has suggested that male foetuses around 8-12 weeks after conception can be effectively demasculinised by exposure to such chemicals.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2009/nov/06/health-eu

[virgogal]

2. Jesus---we should all go back to grandma's cooking.

[ensho]

3. yes and using LESS plastic anythings

nt

[upi402]

4. The film, "Food Inc." is a must see!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQzzprbRb74

Here's part 1 on Utube. Check it out! Eat organic and get active to keep it REALLY organic.

Obama is no help, btw;
http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_19325.cfm