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Everyday use of plastics can be a killer

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A leading toxicologist says plastic can be a hazard to people's health

A leading toxicologist says plastic can be a hazard to people's health

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Wed, 21 Apr 2010 5:01p.m.

We use plastic everyday – we drink from it, eat from it, heat and store food in it.

But is it really that safe?

A leading toxicologist,  Professor Ian Shaw from the University of Canterbury, says ‘no’.  Chemicals in plastic appear to be effecting everything from premature puberty to infertility to cancer.

It is compounds like BPA which are causing the most concern and it's a controversial issue.

New Zealand regulators say the amount in our diet is safe – other countries, like Canada, disagree.

But when so much is at risk is it time that the plastics industry start looking for alternatives?

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Comments [6]

crystal
07 May 2010 11:38p.m.

its shocking how bad things have got with plastics, iv read that gladwrap is also a big badie too. we used plastic bottles with our daughter (breast milk inside.. had issues with feeding) and as we graduated to formula i would taste her bottle to check temp and slowly over time the water would taste like plastic so we stoped using them and they were the fancy avent ones. we now have a newborn son and only will use glass bottles. there are so many dangers out there thou so its hard to draw the line from chemicals in new carpet, paint, newspaper, matresses, cleaning products, makeup, food, drinks the list goes on forever... it seems the people who lived in the past were more healthy then us modern lot!!!

Rachael
30 Apr 2010 8:13p.m.

It is ironic that our lifestyle is causing so many health concerns and organic baby bottles are now on the market. Good grief! In 20 years time who knows what researchers will discover. It really seems logical to breastfeed.

Dwi
24 Apr 2010 5:02p.m.

If baby bottles from plastics also contain chemical which is dangerous if it is heated, so how is the safe way to sterilize baby bottles ? Thanks.

Robynne
22 Apr 2010 11:30p.m.

I first came across information on BPA plastics as a result of my cat developing Hyperthyroidism, as this increasingly common complaint in felines in the western world has been at least partially linked back to the plastic lined tins that their food comes in. Then last year I saw a report on CNN regarding an FDA Report on BPA plastics which clearly quoted the recycling marks 3, 6, and especially 7 as the plastics to avoid. They made no mention of the recycling mark 5 plastics. As I was pregnant last year, my partner and I made a clean break and no longer buy any food in those plastic containers or reheat food in plastic at all. Baby bottles and products are also an issue and we work on an 'if in doubt, avoid it' mentality. It would be good if you could provide some clarification on recycling mark 5 plastics as a huge range of foods in NZ come in this type of plastic. Also your report did not not mention the enormous risk to the developing fetus from BPA plastics, as what is considered 'normal' and safe human exposure is increasingly showing to have extremely detrimental effects on prenatal development, including ovarian development and long-term adverse reproductive and possible carcinogenic effects, fetal and infant brain development and behavior. A 2010 study with mice concluded that BPA exposure in utero leads to permanent DNA alterations in sensitivity to estrogen.

Nathan
22 Apr 2010 7:10a.m.

Stainless Steel Baby Bottles must be the way to go! Organickidz brand from Canada are now in NZ.

Bob
21 Apr 2010 7:53p.m.

Gender bending plastics slowly killing us? Nope, definitely not a conspiracy theory! READ THE STUDIES IF YOU CARE ABOUT THE TRUTH.

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