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Bisphenol a

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Submitted By dolgnerd
Words 713
Pages 3
Geo 200
Rachel Slocum
May 8, 2012
Bisphenol A
By: Derek Dolgner

Health is a reoccurring concern in today’s world. One key component to optimal health is a proper diet. Bisphenol A (BPA) is a chemical that can be found in polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins. Polycarbonate plastics are used in the production of “food and drink packaging such as water and infant bottles, compact discs, impact-resistant safety equipment, and medical devices. Epoxy resins are used as lacquers to coat metal products such as food cans, bottle tops, and water supply pipes. Some dental sealants and composites may also contribute to BPA exposure.” However, the main source of BPA exposure is due to diet as it can be absorbed into food and drinks. Many do not realize what BPA is and many are consuming higher daily intake than what is considered to be safe. The EPA states that human consumption of BPA can be as high as 110 micrograms per pound of bodyweight a day. BPA originally was created as an estrogen substitute and can bind to “estrogen, the male hormone, and the thyroid hormone.” The body’s ability to excrete this chemical compound in the urine and prevent the circulation into the blood stream is due to lysosomes digestion and detoxifying qualities found in the liver. An important question is raised. Is the liver able to excrete this chemical completely? Or..is it being circulated into the blood stream where important developmental hormones can be affected? I believe BPA at some rate bypasses the liver allowing BPA into blood stream and that our exposure and health risks are increasingly greater than previously thought.

state the problelm bpa ...what is it ...why is there an objection to its use? briefly state facts what is the science what is the hype what action is being taken/ advocacy groups / who's attention has this captured? who is the power and money behind? who has an agenda in this? social/cultural(parent groups/autism advocacy council/ national institutes of health / chemical lobby what are the results

Sources
Peer Reviewed cites
Ikezuki, Yumiko, Osamu Tsutsumi, Yasushi Takai, Yoshimasa Kamei, and Yuji Taketani. "Determination of bisphenol A concentrations in human biological fluids reveals significant early prenatal exposure." Oxford Journals. Human Reproduction, 23 July 2002. Web. 8 May 2012. .
(Ikezuki, 2002)
QUESADA, IVAN, ESTHER FUENTES, M. CARMEN VISO-LEÓN, BERNAT SORIA, and CRISTINA RIPOLL. "Low doses of the endocrine disruptor bisphenol-A and the native hormone 17ß-estradiol rapidly activate transcription factor CREB1." The FASEB Journal. N.p., 21 Aug. 2002. Web. 8 May 2012. .
(Quesada, 2002)
Moriyama, Kenji, Tetsuya Tagami, Takashi Akamizu, Takeshi Usui, and Misa Saijo. "Thyroid Hormone Action Is Disrupted by Bisphenol A as an Antagonist." The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism. The Endocrine Society, 1 Nov. 2002. Web. 8 May 2012. .
(Moriyama, 2002) vom Saal, Frederick S., and John P. Myers. "Bisphenol A and Risk of Metabolic Disorders." The Journal of the American Medical Association. N.p., 16 Sept. 2008. Web. 8 May 2012. .
(vom, 2008)
Web sources
"Bisphenol A (BPA): Use in Food Contact Application." U.S. Food and Drug Administration. N.p., 30 Mar. 2012. Web. 8 May 2012. .
(F.D.A., 2012)
UN SOURCE
World Health Organization. 2009. BISPHENOL A (BPA) - Current state of knowledge and future actions by WHO and FAO. http://www.who.int/foodsafety/publications/fs_management/No_05_Bisphenol_A_Nov09_en.pdf
(WHO, 2009)
Book
Cunningham, William P., and Mary A. Cunningham. Principles of Environmental Science. Sisth ed. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2011. 182-204. Print.
(Cunningham and Cunningham 2011)
Lectures
Slocum, Rachel. 2012. Lectures for Geo 200, UWL, Spring. (Slocum, 2012)

Article from an online newspaper
Vaidyanathan, Gayathri. "Study: Human Exposure to BPA 'Grossly Underestimated'." The New York Times 20 Sept. 2010. Web. 8 May 2012. .
(Vaidyanathan, 2010)
Non-governmental organization sources
National Resource Defense Council. 28 Dec. 2011. "Bisphenol A." Web. 8 May 2012. .
(National, 2011)
Hamilton, Jon. 2011. Plastic's New Frontier: No Scary Chemicals. http://www.npr.org/player/v2/mediaPlayer.html?action=1&t=1&islist=false&id=134240436&m=134253908

(Hamilton, 2011) good non-peer reviewed magazine sources:
Musson, Stephen. 2008. Bisphenol A. National Geographic. http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/geopedia/Bisphenol_A.
(Musson, 2008)
2009. Spin the Bottle. Harpers Magazine .http://harpers.org/archive/2009/12/0082737.
(Spin, 2009)

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