Plastics: Everyday Use, Everyday Risk

Thursday, July 03, 2008
Posted by Matthew Parker

Have you ever stopped and thought about the amount of times you are exposed to plastics in a typical day? For most of us, the “morning ritual” may consist of showering with our favorite shampoo, using antiperspirant, checking our daily email while sipping on a cup of hot coffee (or our favorite energy drink), and packing our lunch in the most convenient plastic and Tupperware containers. Before we have been awake but one hour, we have unconsciously exposed ourselves to hundreds of plastics. But we rarely ask ourselves the question, will these common plastics have any adverse effects on our health or the health of our children? The outlook, while still somewhat cloudy, is nonetheless gravely dim. Chemicals used in the manufacture of plastics, such as bisphenol A (BPA), present in our everyday lives and activities, are shown to have detrimental effects on natural human development and growth, often referred to as endocrine disruption. Chemicals found in computer screens and car seats, shower curtains and shampoos, plastic water bottles and prophylactics are all putting us, and, more importantly, our children, at risk of developmental delays and reproductive obstacles, including, but not limited to, decreasing sperm counts and a higher susceptibility to certain cancers.

Under normal conditions, a child’s endocrine system is in charge of slow processes, like cell growth and maintenance, by secreting hormones that travel through the bloodstream, acting only on those glands that have selective receptors for them, including: the thymus, the stomach, the small intestines, the heart, and placenta. Inside of us, chemicals like BPA mimic estrogen—the main developmental hormone in women that contributes to the growth of secondary sexual characteristics such as breasts and a widened pelvis—by plugging into hormone receptors. For pregnant and breastfeeding mothers and young, underdeveloped children, these impersonations can have serious impacts, restructuring our developmental pathways and leaving us susceptible to various cancers as well as physical and behavioral aberrations.

In a 2005 study on BPA exposure, researchers illustrated that perinatal exposure to environmentally relevant doses of BPA in mice cause changes in patterns of mammary gland development at the time of puberty; additionally, comparable changes in women indicate a more significant risk of breast cancer.

BPA is not the only culprit causing these debilitating effects. Chemicals referred to as polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs)—flame-retardant compounds found in mattresses, cribs, computer screens, couch cushions, cars, and televisions—have similar structures to thyroid hormones, often causing an overall decrease in the body’s production of those hormones. In a 2003 study, scientists identified that PBDEs are commonly found in breast milk, which may lead to damaged thyroid secretion and impaired brain functioning in developing infants. Consequently, another common plastic compound called phthalates—found in shampoo and anything containing vinyl, including children’s toys—has been shown to have extremely detrimental effects on the male reproductive development. A 1999 study illustrated that small dosage exposure to phthalates in rats led to an increase in male offspring with sexual abnormalities. In human studies, a report in 1997 found an alarming number of newborn boys in the US (nearly 1 in every 125) are born with hypospadia, a condition where the urethra does not properly extend through the penis. This data also suggests that the incidence of this disease has doubled since the 1970’s, suggesting that phthalates may be a possible culprit.  

With all of this bleak and sobering information, it would seem obvious that the government is doing all it can to protect our future health, right? Wrong. In 1976, Congress passed the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), which essentially forces manufacturers to register their chemical compounds with the EPA, who are then responsible to test for their safety.  It may sound reassuring and effective, but from 1997 to 2004, the EPA performed constructive reviews on fewer than one in eight cases.  Every day, the United States produces or imports almost 42 billion pounds of chemicals—nearly 140 pounds for every American. If the EPA continues to let potentially harmful compounds skate by, there is no telling what may be lurking inside the newest phones, computers, or furniture.

The House of Representatives has initiated an investigation into the federal government’s regulatory role regarding chemical usage. The ongoing predicament is that the EPA currently allows the chemical industry to set its own standards and conduct its own evaluations regarding endocrine disrupting chemicals and their impacts on children. With the recent dismissal of an environmental scientist after she had testified to ban PBDEs, much speculation has arisen that the weight and influence of the chemical industry on the decision making of the EPA may be extremely difficult to overcome. According to the Environmental Working Group, 17 scientists with financial or other ties to the chemical industry currently serve on seven EPA review boards, creating an all too austere picture.

Hope is not lost, however. The Environmental Working Group has continued to push for a revamping of the TSCA while also supporting local and state-level efforts to more effectively regulate the materials used in the manufacturing and production of everyday products. “Green Chemistry” practices have also received much publicity and attention from corporations and academics, and some US cities have begun promoting pharmaceutical “takebacks,” which limit the flushing of unused pills in water deposits and landfills. Additionally, this April, Canada became the first country to ban BPA from being used in baby bottles.  Consequently, this action prompted companies such as Wal Mart and reusable sports bottle extraordinaire Nalgene to halt the sale of products that use BPA. In addition, Wal-Mart Canada is removing all baby products that use the harmful chemical, further pledging that they plan to stop selling them in the U.S. by next year.  Playtex is also offering free BPA-free bottles to customers and has openly stated that they will stop selling those with BPA by December, 2008.

On the legislative front, Washington State Governor Chris Gregoire signed the Children’s Safe Products Act into law on April 1st, 2008. Widely hailed as the most stringent toy safety law, this bill will go into full effect in the summer of 2009 with the intention of reducing the amount of cadmium, lead, and phthalates in children’s jewelry, car seats, and other products. On the same date, the European Court of Justice put a ban on DecaBDE, the only PBDE still on the market in North America. Maine has instituted the same ban in their state, halting the usage of Deca in mattresses and other upholstered furniture, also illustrating its intent to extend the ban to electronics in 2010. On April 17th, Governor Baldacci (D-Maine) signed into law LD 2048 (HP 1432), “"An Act To Protect Children's Health and the Environment from Toxic Chemicals in Toys and Children's Products.” The fight against the use of these hazardous chemicals will continue, as further action is being taken by Congress. On April 29th, Senator Schumer (D-NY) introduced the BPA-Free Kids Act that would ban BPA from products intended for children 7 and under. In addition, the Kids Safe Chemical Act would revamp how the US regulates chemicals in everyday products.

On a more personal, consumer-based level, the Environmental Working Group has published a report on its website that clearly outlines and lists the companies that have taken the steps to eradicate PBDEs from their products. So what comes next? It is time to push for more regulations on and oversight of our everyday products. Why should our children be exposed to harmful chemicals if better, healthier alternatives are available? Is cost really the issue, or is our health and well being at the disposal of chemistry corporations and capitalistic double standards? The next time you wake up and participate in your everyday morning custom, stop and think about the plastics you and your children are exposed to. You’re doing your best to ensure that your children grow up in the safest and healthiest environment possible, and our government should be held accountable to the same standard.