Phthalates (BPA's): Plastics Everywhere .. 2/1/2001

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An excellent reason to avoid processed foods! . . . Rogene

·

Plastics: The Sixth Basic Food Group --

Part 2. - Townsend Letter ... The primary phthalates

in soft vinyl toys are di-isononyl

phthalate (DINP) and

.... Everything from anorexia to breast implants have been associated with

the ...

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- 65k - similar pages Plastics:

The Sixth Basic Food Group -- Part 2. From: Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients | Date:

2/1/2001

| Author: , Rose Marie Health Risks and Environmental Issues

"Plastics -- An Important Part of Your Healthy Diet," touts the

American Plastics Council in a full-page ad in National Geographic 2000

Magazine, suggesting that plastics could be thought of as "the 6th basic

food group." "Oh, you certainly wouldn't eat them, but plastic

packaging does help protect our food supply," continues the message. Could

there be a little tongue in cheek here on the part of industry scientists?

Truth be told, we are indeed eating plastic chemicals, as well as inhaling them

and absorbing them through our skin. Plastics in the Diet

American children are consuming an average of 5.8 milligrams of the phthalate

plasticizer, DEHP, per day. This comes from food stored in plastic wrap, water

stored in plastic containers, toys, teethers, and baby bottles. Phthalates are

even found in the inks used to print on plastic, cardboard and foil, and can

leach through the wrapping material into the food. [1] Being fat-soluble these chemicals are easily

absorbed from plastic packaging materials and concentrate in high fat foods,

such as dairy products including cheese, butter, margarine, as well as meat

products. People consuming large quantities of these foods may also be

ingesting large amounts of phthalates. A word of caution -- many organic foods,

including cheese, are wrapped in plastic packaging materials. Whereas special

order cheese cut at a deli counter is often wrapped in waxed paper. Consumer Reports tested several brands of

plastic wrap and found DEHP in Reynolds Wrap and Saran Wrap, but not in plastic

wrap by America 's

Choice, Duane Reade, Foodtown, Glad Crystal, Clear Polyethylene and White Rose.

[2] Plastics Everywhere

Phthalates have become the most abundant synthetic chemical in our environment.

Used as a softener in plastic products they can be found in building materials,

carpet backing, vinyl tile, covering on wires and cables, garden hoses, tool

handles, automobile undercoating, artificial leather, dishwasher baskets, flea

collars, insect repellents, skin creams, hair sprays, perfumes, nail polish,

notebook covers, toys, teethers, baby bottles, blood bags, and other medical

devices, in addition to food wrap and food packaging. [2] The plastic industry produces over a billion

pounds of phthalates yearly, and spends millions of dollars advertising their

safety and usefulness. Health and environmental advocates have been arguing for

years that plastics are neither safe, nor necessary. New studies are beginning

to shed light on how serious and pervasive a health risk they pose, and how

easily the chemicals are absorbed, ingested, and inhaled. Plastics Pose Health Risks

Phthalates, added to polyvinyl chloride (PVC) products to make them more pliable,

have been implicated in several recent studies as causing birth defects, damage

to the reproductive system, kidneys, and heart of lab mice and rats. [4] The primary phthalates in soft vinyl toys are

di-isononyl phthalate (DINP) and di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP). DEHP is

considered a "probable human carcinogen" by the US Environmental

Protection Agency (EPA). Some phthalates in the bloodstream mimic female

hormones, while others interfere with male hormones leading to birth defects

and sexual abnormalities. DEHP is increasingly being replaced by DINP,

about which less information is known. Its toxicity, however, is well enough

established to warrant labels on vials of DINP warning researchers that the

chemical may cause cancer, is harmful if swallowed, or spilled on skin. [5] CDC Findings

An ongoing twenty-year study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

(CDC) has consistently found higher levels of phthalates in American adults

than had been expected. [6] Researchers tested urine from 289 adults and found

that commonly encountered phthalates "float in peoples' bodies... at low

levels." [7] This was no surprise to health advocates who

have been arguing for a long time that phthalates used in toys and medical

equipment are dangerous. Plastics and Breast Cancer Cells

Plastics, used in thousands of everyday products from food wrap to pesticides,

have been found to leach endocrine disrupting chemicals into the bodies of

unsuspecting consumers of all ages. Some 30 years ago Doctors Ana Soto and

Sonnenschien at Tufts

University ,

School of Medicine ,

were among the first scientists to find thaendocrine disrupting chemicals

leached from plastic test tubes. After performing numerous tests they found the

hormone mimicking chemicals leaching from plastic test tubes caused rampant

proliferation of breast cancer cells. An experiment at Stanford University

School of Medicine found similar results from chemicals leaching from plastic

water jugs. [8] The EPA's Endocrine Disrupter Screening and

Testing Advisory Committee (EDSTAC) has been looking into this for two years,

but thus far has provided the American public with very little information. [9]

Women of Child-Bearing Age

Not only are there high levels of phthalates among Americans in general, but

CDC chemist, Brock, found that "women of child-bearing age (20-40)

had 50% higher phthalates than average." [10] Some phthalates known to cause birth defects in

laboratory animals are commonly found in perfumes, nail polish, and hair sprays

-- products widely used by this age group -- and which "can be absorbed

through the lungs...." [11] Referring to the high levels of phthalates found

in young women, "That's not where you want them, when dealing with

compounds that cause birth defects," stated M.D. of the

Chemical Industry Institute of Toxicology. [12] Taking a stand on behalf of public health, the

Environmental Health Network of California has petitioned the US Food and Drug

Administration (FDA) to require labeling of perfumes that contain toxic

phthalates such as Calvin Klein's Eternity. [13] Baby Girls in Puerto Rico

A major study investigating premature breast development (precocious thelarche)

among thousands of girls in Puerto Rico under

the age of two has produced some interesting findings. Eight of every 1000 baby

girls, nearly 1%, have been diagnosed with this condition. Scientists carefully eliminated several possible

risk factors such as hormones in meat, pharmaceutical factory smoke,

insecticides and estrogenic chemicals in formula. Twenty years of research now

suggests that phthalates may be contributing to the epidemic. [14] Thirty-five of 41 girls affected, showed

phthalates in their blood, versus only seven out of 35 in a control group. The

affected group showed 450 p/p/b (parts per billion) as opposed to only 70 p/p/b

in the control group. [15] "Most of the phthalates found in the Puerto

Rican infants were di-(2-ethylhexyl), or DEHP, a softening agent in polyvinyl

chloride (PVC) products. DEHP is among the most widely used phthalates, and is

considered the most potent." [16] It is believed the contamination levels of the

girls in Puerto Rico is extremely high because

the island imports huge quantities of commercial foods packaged in

phthalate-containing plastics. In addition, Puerto Rico has a hot and humid climate making air conditioning very desirable.

Unfortunately, it seems that air conditioning traps airborne phthalates inside

homes and public buildings. [17] "Barbies" Linked to Early Puberty

It was bad enough that Mattel's Barbie dolls with exaggerated female

proportions set a standard which young girls hoped to achieve. For decades

researchers have been concerned about the psychological impact of the

"Barbie" body on the development of young girls. Everything from

anorexia to breast implants have been associated with the "Barbie"

influence among young females in our society. Now comes an even greater threat. According to

recent research, phthalates leaching out of old Barbie dolls may disrupt

hormone development. [18] For over 30 years young girls have spent hours

playing with Barbie dolls. Younger siblings preferred chewing on the plastic

dolls, just as they would chew on any chewable plastic toy. Researchers fear this may be another

contributing factor to early puberty among females growing up in our culture.

Industry responds by claiming there is no absolute evidence, and that more

studies are needed, but is often reluctant to provide the funding necessary for

additional studies. Baby Bottles & Teethers

Pacifiers and baby bottle nipples are mostly made of latex or silicone, neither

product under suspicion at this time. Phthalate softeners, however, are

frequently found in teething items and baby bottles made from polycarbonate, a

clear and rigid plastic. Consumer Reports' researchers found bisphenol-A

leached from plastic baby bottles into infant formula when heated, and advises

consumers to avoid polycarbonate baby bottles until more is known about their

possible effects on babies. [19] Glass bottles or opaque bottles (duller plastic,

often colored) made of polyethylene do not leach phthalates (Frazer). Gerber

and Evenflo voluntarily took phthalates out of vinyl and baby care products and

Hasbro stopped making teethers and rattles. However, NYPIRG (New York Public

Interest Research Group) cautions parents about buying old Hasbro products,

such as Teeth 'n' Toy Soft Animal Teether Assortment, Disney Babies Teether 'n'

Travel, or Babies Hold 'n' Soothe Teether. [21] Children's Toys

Since 1996 Greenpeace has steadfastly raised public awareness about the hazards

of toxic chemical additives in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic toys because

phthalate plasticizers leach into children's mouths when toys are chewed or

sucked. The chemicals are "free-floating," and can

"offgas," or evaporate from soft PVC products in the home and bind to

airborne particles such as dust, and increase children's exposure. [22] Several retailers including Toys 'R' Us and Kmart

are removing the offending plastic toys from their stores. Mattel has decided

to phase out non-renewable petroleum based plastics in favor of materials

derived from edible and plant starches. [23] Ten countries, including

Germany , France ,

Sweden , and

Mexico have

either banned or restricted these products. Some companies such as IKEA, Lego,

and Nike have initiated a phase out of PVC toys. Though an "emergency

ban" on soft PVC toys proposed by the European Union has been delayed,

Greenpeace believes the proposal may serve to pressure American toy

manufacturers to take action. Despite the fact that some phthalates in the

bloodstream mimic female hormones, while others interfere with male hormones

leading to birth defects and altered sexual development, US regulators have

failed to impose regulatory guidelines on industry. Instead, the

US government

has relied solely on voluntary actions by toy companies to eliminate the use of

PVC and its toxic additives in children's toys. [24] Plastics Interfere with Sperm Production

CDC scientist, Brock, reveals that phthalates are dangerous in several

ways. They kill cells that produce sperm, verifying a 30-year decline in sperm

production by men in industrialized countries (1.5% drop per year). Phthalates

have induced cases of undescended testicles in lab animals. [25] As estrogen

mimickers they may also play a role in testicular cancer. [26] Both problems

are increasing in the male population. "Phthalates have the potential to disrupt

boys' reproductive development," according to a recent report from the

National Toxicology Program's Center for the Evaluation of Risks to Human

Reproduction (CERHR), a division of the National Institute of Environmental

Health Sciences in Research Triangle Park, NC. [27] Greenpeace Emphasizes Prevention

Industry's immediate reaction to negative health claims about any class of

products, be it PCBs or phthalates, is to charge that insufficient proof exists

and that more studies are needed. Instead of providing the funds required to carry

out the necessary studies, industry prefers to invest millions of dollars in

advertising and lobbying. Government regulation is often hampered by budget

cuts, staff reduction, political and corporate influence. Public health issues are often better represented

by non-governmental consumer organizations. GREENPEACE is one of these watchdog

groups that has maintained a consistent, often controversial, position in

exposing abusers of public and environmental health. As taxpayers we have very little say as to

whether our money is spent to promote public interests, or corporate interests.

Those who wish to promote public health issues can make a contribution to the

Greenpeace "Anti-Toxics Action Campaign,"

1436 U. Street, NW , Washington ,

DC 20009 .

GREENPEACE advises consumers to avoid using plastic products that are known to

contain phthalates, while it continues its campaign to have these hazardous

chemicals removed from the marketplace. More Information on Plastics

* 's Environmental Health Weekly, www.rachels.org

* GREENPEACE, www.greenpeaceusa.org/toxics/toxictoys.htm

* Consumer Reports (discussion of plastic wrap) www.ConsumerReports.org

* Information on phthalates and endocrine disrupting chemicals

www.ourstolenfuture.org

* NYPIRG "Trouble in Toyland," www.nypirg.org

* World Wildlife Fund, www.worldwildlife.org References

(1.) Frazer, , New studies blame plastics for sexual abnormalities, News

On Earth, Oct. 2000 3:10, NY.

(2.) Ibid.

(3.) Ibid.

(4.) Pennybacker, Mindy, Teething on Toxics, GREENPEACE May/June 2000.

(5.) Ibid.

(6.) Frazer, , New studies blame plastics for sexual abnormalities, News

On Earth, Oct. 2000 3:10, NY.

(7.) CDC study finds everyday chemicals absorbed by body, Poughkeepsie Journal,

Sept. 2, 2000, Poughkeepsie ,

NY .

(8.) Risk of Plastics to be Evaluated, Choices, The Newsletter of the Ithaca

Breast Cancer Alliance, No.17, Winter 1999,

Ithaca , NY .

(9.) Ibid.

(10.) Fraser, , New studies blame plastics for sexual abnormalities,

News On Earth, Oct. 2000 3:10, NY.

(11.) Ibid.

(12.) CDC study finds everyday chemicals absorbed by body, Poughkeepsie

Journal, Sept. 2, 2000, Poughkeepsie ,

NY .

(13.) Frazer, , New studies blame plastics for sexual abnormalities,

News On Earth, Oct. 2000 3:10, NY.

(14.) Ibid.

(15.) Ibid.

(16.) Ibid.

(17.) Ibid.

(18.) Aging Barbies may ooze chemicals, threaten health, The Times-Herald

Record, Aug. 24, 2000, Middletown ,

NY .

(19.) Your Health, Consumer Reports, June, 1998.

(20.) Fraser, , New studies blame plastics far sexual abnormalities,

News On Earth, Oct. 2000 3:10, NY.

(21.) Pennybacker, Mindy, Teething on Toxics, GREENPEACE, May/June 2000.

(22.) Ibid.

(23.) Ibid.

(24.) Toxics Toys Update, GREENPEACE, Winter 1999.

(25.) Frazer, , New studies blame plastics for sexual abnormalities,

News On Earth, Oct. 2000 3:10, NY.

(26.) Chemicals That Compromise Life: A Call to Action, World Wildlife Fund

Issue Brief, Sept. 1998.

(27.) Frazer, , New studies blame plastics for sexual abnormalities,

News On Earth, Oct. 2000 3:10, NY.

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