Bisphenol A Research Paper
Bisphenol A (BPA) Bisphenol A is a harmful chemical found in most everything made of plastic. It is in obvious things, such as paint, and it is in not so obvious things such as baby bottles. Small amounts of BPA are harmless to humans, but extreme amounts of BPA can have life threatening affects. BPA is used to make Polycarbonate Plastics. The Plastics produced are the lightest weight and the toughest of all plastics. Approximately 2.8 million tons of BPA is produced yearly in the world. Studies have also shown that BPA exists in dental sealants and puts the user at risk of exposure. BPA is the world’s most tested chemical in the world, but it also has the most unanswered question
BPA has shown the ability to cause medical problems in
animal testing. Medicine Net says that “Studies done on laboratory rodents have shown that high doses of BPA during pregnancy and lactation can reduce survival, birth weight, and growth of offspring early in life, and delay the onset of puberty(Medicine Net NPA).” These serious problems are possible in humans as well; however, the amount of BPA necessary to ingest is much more than a human is exposed to in a life time. Infants are exposed to much more BPA than the rest of the human population. “BPA is found in the plastic baby bottles and the linings of cans of powdered and liquid formula (Medicine Net NPA).” Babies are also exposed to BPA in their pacifiers. With all the BPA exposure in an infant’s small body, serious side effects could occur.
Originally it was thought that BPA has no effect on aquatic life. However, after extensive research, it was proven that BPA has a similar affect on aquatic life as on humans. BPA leaks out of factories and into our oceans and water ways. This causes a very highly concentrated content of BPA. BPA also gets into the water from water bottles. Although plastic does not decompose easily, in saltwater plastic decomposes rather rapidly, releasing their content of BPA into the water. The BPA could be ingested by aquatic life; therefore, transferring to humans when the fish is eaten. This could expose the human population to more BPA than ever.
BPA is safe to use in plastics and epoxies; however, the BPA in fish could cause serious health problems. The government should regulate the BPA that is released into the ocean through factories. The police of coastline counties should crack down on liter of plastics into the ocean. BPA should also be banned from Baby bottles, pacifiers, and formula. BPA is safe if regulated, but if not it could cause many harmful side effects in much of the human population. BPA is a strong reliable source for strong reliable plastics, epoxies, and containers. This modern miracle needs to be watched, however, so it doesn’t turn deadly.
Sources
1. Bisphenol A (BPA) http://www.bisphenol-a.org/about/faq.html?gclid=CJ7R_MjIz6ICFQK8sgodrVWDwA#a An informative website devoted to enlightening consumers about BPA and its effects. 2. Plastic http://www.medicinenet.com/plastic/article.htm
A medical website dedicated to explaining risks of BPA. 3. Toxic baby bottles http://www.environmentcalifornia.org/reports/environmental-health/environmental- health-reports/toxic-baby-bottles
An activist website stating concerns about BPA in baby bottles.
4. FDA Backtracks on Potential Danger of BPA http://abcnews.go.com/WN/fda-backtracks-potential-danger-bpa/story?id=9583522 An ABC News report on BPA.
5. BPA not just in food and water, but contaminating the ocean http://news.mongabay.com/2010/0328-hance_bpa_oceans.html An article showing that BPA is in the ocean.
BPA has shown the ability to cause medical problems in
animal testing. Medicine Net says that “Studies done on laboratory rodents have shown that high doses of BPA during pregnancy and lactation can reduce survival, birth weight, and growth of offspring early in life, and delay the onset of puberty(Medicine Net NPA).” These serious problems are possible in humans as well; however, the amount of BPA necessary to ingest is much more than a human is exposed to in a life time. Infants are exposed to much more BPA than the rest of the human population. “BPA is found in the plastic baby bottles and the linings of cans of powdered and liquid formula (Medicine Net NPA).” Babies are also exposed to BPA in their pacifiers. With all the BPA exposure in an infant’s small body, serious side effects could occur.
Originally it was thought that BPA has no effect on aquatic life. However, after extensive research, it was proven that BPA has a similar affect on aquatic life as on humans. BPA leaks out of factories and into our oceans and water ways. This causes a very highly concentrated content of BPA. BPA also gets into the water from water bottles. Although plastic does not decompose easily, in saltwater plastic decomposes rather rapidly, releasing their content of BPA into the water. The BPA could be ingested by aquatic life; therefore, transferring to humans when the fish is eaten. This could expose the human population to more BPA than ever.
BPA is safe to use in plastics and epoxies; however, the BPA in fish could cause serious health problems. The government should regulate the BPA that is released into the ocean through factories. The police of coastline counties should crack down on liter of plastics into the ocean. BPA should also be banned from Baby bottles, pacifiers, and formula. BPA is safe if regulated, but if not it could cause many harmful side effects in much of the human population. BPA is a strong reliable source for strong reliable plastics, epoxies, and containers. This modern miracle needs to be watched, however, so it doesn’t turn deadly.
Sources
1. Bisphenol A (BPA) http://www.bisphenol-a.org/about/faq.html?gclid=CJ7R_MjIz6ICFQK8sgodrVWDwA#a An informative website devoted to enlightening consumers about BPA and its effects. 2. Plastic http://www.medicinenet.com/plastic/article.htm
A medical website dedicated to explaining risks of BPA. 3. Toxic baby bottles http://www.environmentcalifornia.org/reports/environmental-health/environmental- health-reports/toxic-baby-bottles
An activist website stating concerns about BPA in baby bottles.
4. FDA Backtracks on Potential Danger of BPA http://abcnews.go.com/WN/fda-backtracks-potential-danger-bpa/story?id=9583522 An ABC News report on BPA.
5. BPA not just in food and water, but contaminating the ocean http://news.mongabay.com/2010/0328-hance_bpa_oceans.html An article showing that BPA is in the ocean.