Plastic Releases Estrogenic Chemicals


Most people have heard of BPA-free plastic, but a recent study has found that nearly all plastic, even that which claims to be BPA-free, releases chemicals that have estrogenic activity (EA) and cause hormone distruption.

Their results found that:
"Almost all commercially available plastic products we sampled—independent of the type of resin, product, or retail source—leached chemicals having reliably detectable EA, including those advertised as BPA free. In some cases, BPA-free products released chemicals having more EA than did BPA-containing products."

They noted that:
"Chemicals having estrogenic activity (EA) reportedly cause many adverse health effects, especially at low (picomolar to nanomolar) doses in fetal and juvenile mammals."

Their conclusion indicates that the industry does have access to additives that have no detectable EA and have similar costs. If these were used by the plastics industry, we could:
"eliminate a potential health risk posed by most currently available plastic products that leach chemicals having EA into food products."

This study underscores the recommendation that pregnant women and parents of young children should avoid all plastic-based baby products. Please use tried and true materials like wood, metal, or glass and keep plastic away from baby.

Read the full article here or download the PDF.

Learn more about the Environmental Committee's research, which informs our recent recommendation to Phase Out Plastic Bag Rolls on the shopping floor.

* Originally published on Plastic Albatross.

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