Do Low Doses of BPA Harm People?
http://ogoapes.weebly.com/uploads/3/2/3/9/3239894/do_low_doses_of_bpa_harm_people.pdf
There is a debate going on by federal officials regarding if BPA should be regulated. BPA is the most used chemical for consumer goods raging from foods and beverages to plastics, can liners, and some paper receipts. It is controversial because toxicologist argue that is harming the human health and biologist who studied the effect disagree. It has been shown that 90% if Americans tested have traces of BPA in their bodies. BPA acts like an estrogen, which disrupts the hormones of the animals tested and it alters the reproductive system and brain develop. Those who have a higher exposure then to increase the risks of cardiovascular diseases, obesity and diabetes. The debates focus of the amount of a chemical int he human body and how it may behave. A scientist argued that the levels causing effects in animal studies particular those who caused by BPA's interaction with estrogen receptors, are much higher than the levels of the models suggest that are plausible in people. Senior scientist Teeguarden says " There is not sufficient evidence on which to make claims that humans are at risk at current exposure levels". Other argue that Teeguarden and colleges have conducted do not accurately represent what scores of published observations biological studies have reported, they are concern that the models are going to be used by the FDA to tell the public that BPA is safe.
|
Reflection:
In the article that I just read it talks about both perspectives on if BPA should be banned. It was interesting to know that it is basically found in almost anything from plastics to can foods and receipts. When taking chemistry I knew that when a can got indented it would release a chemical that can be deadly, and that was mostly it. Now studying more about it and reading about it I am able to know more about what is really found in foods that one eats. It is interesting to know that there is still people out there that they want to lie to the public regarding their own health. If BPA is dangerous to the human health why not just tell everyone so they can be precarious in their food selections. I found interesting the quote from another perspective saying "they are concern that the models are going to be used by the FDA to tell the public that BPA is safe". Sometimes is hard to understand why politicians decided to take those decisions which late will create another problem. |