Use Glass

By Zelda Oxendine


Plastics are not easy to stay away from during these times. Nearly all products sold in the market are packed or contained in something made of plastic. Most of its use are in our day to day activities such as for meal preparations and food storage. It is difficult to find glass containers these days of the plastic revolution. More and more illnesses have surfaced that can be linked to plastic use, affecting everybody, young and old. It was unheard of when I was a teenager that a girl of eight would already have her menses. It's not news to us if we hear that today because we know that it is because of the BPA that imitates estrogen, the female hormone. According to research and studies, an astounding 90% of the population carries trace residues of BPA in their bodies.

Although Bisphenol was synthesized in 1891,commercial production of Bisphenol A began in the 1950's. Bisphenol leaking out from early productions of plastics was the issue behind its long deferred public release. The definition of Bisphenol is: a manufactured chemical commonly used in the production of polycarbonate plastics, which has been found to affect the development of animals (even in minute doses) by acting like the hormone estrogen. Moreover, various experiments conducted on animals and those in test tubes that were found to have traces of Bisphenol A had hormonal imbalances thus it was termed as "environmental hormones". What are these effects? Well, you can pick from breast cancer, prostate cancer, early pubescence and brain deformation. And to think, babies get to be exposed to that at a very early age with how they are fed today! The Canadian Health Ministry are actually aware of the highly adverse effects of BPA exposure and was first to take precautionary measures to control it. Folks, the knowledge of the dangers of this chemical has been around for a long time. Proof of the substance to have adverse hormonal effects was first substantiated by the experiment made where ovariectomized rats were given BPA. This happened during the 1930's. (Dodds and Lawson, 1936, 1938) The result of the research in relation to the consequences of BPA on humans were even underrated.

BPA in plastic production is used for solidifying the plastic and creating a lightweight material that is clear and resists heat, electric conduction and being shattered. Whatever you can think of, polycarbonate is everywhere, from the glass lenses, storage discs, computers, tools, car headlights, sports safety equipment, devices in the medical field, incubators, recycle cups and plates, even the linings in beverage and food cans.

SRI Consulting printed in its Chemical Economics Handbook, released in August of 2004 its findings on the overall consumption of BPA for the year 2003, an estimated 3 million metric tons.

To reduce your exposure to Bisphenol A, there are various ways to do that. Buying food ingredients in glass jars in the market is best. One particular example is the tomato sauce. Tomato sauces packed in plastic leaks BPA when the tomato's acid reacts to it. Garden fresh fruits and vegetables sold in the market is what you should pick because they do not contain any BPA. Buy juices and if you drink soda, in glass bottles whenever possible. Glass bottles for your baby is the way to do it.

I use ceramic or glass every chance I get. And don't forget your pets. Use ceramic, glass or stainless food and water (the toilet doesn't count!) dishes. There are birdbaths also that are created magnificently in colored glass or ceramic. It makes the garden look very pretty and lessens the risk of wildlife and domestic animals getting exposed to BPA. Besides, glass can be reprocessed and reused. Gee, glass really is greener - no matter what side of the fence you are on.




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