Archive for Environmental
Plastics & BPA – What you don’t know CAN hurt you!
Posted by: | CommentsThere has been much discussion and controversy lately regarding the safety (or lack of) of plastics in our environment, as well as, in our food and water supplies. As an environmental scientist I can assure you that it is much more insidious with far more negative impacts than most people realize.
Is this intended to scare you? Well, let’s hope so! It would be great if you get concerned enough to actually take actions that can help protect you and your family from plastic ‘pollution’ as much as possible and perhaps allow you to live longer and healthier lives. Many of us have been complacent for far too long assuming that ‘business’ and government agencies have been looking out for our best health interests. Unfortunately, that is just not always the case.
Who cares, what’s the big deal anyway? The big deal is that there are components in plastic containers that break down and leach into the liquid and food they contain. One of major concern is BPA or bis-Phenol A. BPA is a building block of plastics and has long been known to be an endocrine disruptor. That means the human body ‘sees’ this man-made substance as a hormone that can be taken up by our endocrine system and used in place of one of our many human hormones that are essential for so many of our proper body functions. 
Our endocrine system includes our gonads, hypothalamus, pituitary, thyroid, pancreas, adrenal, and pineal glands. These are all critical components of our endocrine system and their proper functioning is essential for good health. Imagine what could happen if a little piece of BPA is mistakenly taken up by your body to be used in place of a human produced hormone. It certainly could ‘disrupt’ your endocrine system and cause untold havoc in your body.
Bisphenol A is found in hundreds of household products, including plastic bottles, as well as, baby bottles and food containers. It is also present in the linings of canned goods such as sodas, soup, baby formula and canned fruits and vegetables.
Pesticide Exposure from Food Products
Posted by: | CommentsWe are all familiar with the saying that ‘you are what you eat’ and never has that fact been more important than today. With all the news we hear regarding global warming and the environment more and more people are aware that everyday choices can make a big difference in their lives or the lives of their children.
This is especially true in choosing the foods we eat which are greatly impacted by the farming methods used to produce them. Is it worth buying organically grown foods instead of conventionally grown ones? Foods produced from conventional farming methods usually contain numerous chemical residues from the many pesticides and herbicides such farming utilizes. Organically grown foods should be free of pesticides and herbicides in order to be ‘certified organic’. It is certainly up to you to decide but a couple things to keep in mind regarding our food products and pesticide exposure in children.
- Shoppers Guide To Pesticides indicates that 96% of some fruits and 82% of some vegetables contain pesticide residue
- According to a report in Environmental Health Perspectives , blood samples of children aged 2 to 4, concentrations of pesticide residues are six times higher in children eating conventionally farmed fruits and vegetables compared with those eating organic foods.
Additional information regarding children and health can be found at the US EPA website America’s Children and The Environment.
Still not convinced that organic may be the way to go for you and your family in order to minimize pesticide exposure from the foods you eat? Then at the very least be sure to thoroughly clean your fruits and vegetables with a non-toxic, biodegradable cleaner prior to eating. This can help to remove at least some of the pesticide residue present on nearly all conventionally produced fruits and vegetables. Be aware and be proactive in helping to protect yourself and your family from the many environmental pollutants we face each day. It can certainly make a difference in your health and longevity.
Your Health IS Your Greatest Wealth!
