Do Low Doses of BPA Harm People?
by Elizabeth Grossman Feb. 20, 2013
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Source: Scientific American
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Summary: BPA is the most controversial chemical in consumer products. It is used for making plastic, food and beverage can liners, and some paper receipts and dental sealants. Scientists still battle today whether BPA is bad in general or the amount that is being used in certain products. More than 90% of Americans have been tested to have BPA in their bodies. It was found that BPA disrupt hormones in laboratory animals. Also, that it alters their reproductive systems, brain develop, and tales part of breast and prostate cancer. As a matter of fact, people who have higher levels of BPA have a big risk of cardiovascular disease, obesity, and diabetes. However, scientists who study BPA's health effects in animals and people. They have include specialists in genetics and other stuff to support their report that health effects in lab animals are very low of BPA exposure that they say are comparable to amounts people encounter through consumer products. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Food and Drug Administration in deciding whether to regulate BPA in consumer products. According to consumer concerns, some manufacturers already have stopped using BPA in plastic baby bottles, receipts and other items.
Reflection: After reading this article I didn't know that canned foods had high levels of BPA in their can liners or that it can be also found in certain plastics and papers, like receipts. Now everytime I go to the store I'm gonna politely ask that I don't need receipt when I am not going to return any item(s). Also, if we don't lower the high levels of BPA in certain products it can harm us and te environment. BPA tends to disrupt hormones, brain development, and cancer. |