By Ruth Kava, Ph.D., R.D., Aubrey Noelle Stimola, Rivka Weiser, Lynnea Mills
Posted: Monday, December 13, 2004
REPORT
Publication Date: December 13, 2004
Introduction
Pediatric Vaccines and Autism
PCBs in Salmon and Cancer
Cell Phones Cause Brain Tumors
Nightlights and Leukemia
Chemicals in Cosmetics
Mercury in Seafood Causes Neurological Problems in Humans
Cheeseburgers and Cardiovascular Disease (CVD)
Antibiotics Cause Breast Cancer
Teflon Causes Health Problems in Humans
Soda Causes Esophageal Cancer
Dishonorable Mention
Deodorants, Antiperspirants Cause Breast Cancer
Plastics Cause Cancer
The Scare:
This year saw a great deal of media attention to a supposed link between plastics and cancer. Many newspapers articles claimed that phthalates, known rodent carcinogens, could be leaching into our food from plastic food containers and cling wraps when those plastics are heated or frozen. Headlines ranged from disturbing (“The Perils of Plastic: Your Cling Wrap Could be Leaching Chemicals”(
136)) to downright frightening (“A DAILY DOSE OF DANGER?; PLASTICS ARE EVERYWHERE, AND SO ARE THE POISONS THEY RELEASE”(
137)). Many other media sources, particularly college newspapers,(
138) denounced Nalgene water bottles, the durable plastic water bottles popular among students and outdoor enthusiasts, for releasing the chemical bisphenol A (BPA) into the water in the bottles. BPA is believed by some to cause chromosomal abnormalities in mice (not all authorities agree that BPA has this effect, however(
139)). Numerous groups concerned about the environment advised against using Nalgene water bottles,(
140) some even calling them “evil.”(
141)
These chemicals have never been shown to cause any sort of adverse health effect in humans, particularly at the low doses that might potentially come from plastic food containers or water bottles.(142) The rodents in the toxicological studies of BPA were injected with large quantities of the chemicals over short periods of time(143)—not a scenario analogous to human exposure. The BPA effects on rodents have not even been replicated in other studies.(144)
But, most importantly, we should keep in mind that even if plastics were leaking animal carcinogens into our food, that food probably already contains far more carcinogens that are naturally occurring; thousands of foods naturally contain chemicals found to cause cancer in rodents but which have not been shown to be carcinogenic in humans.(145)
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