by James Hamp, M.D.
Throwaway water bottles are available almost everywhere now. While the convenience is wonderful, there is a price to pay in future health risks to individuals and the environment. This article summarizes some of the research of “plastic pollution” and why eliminating the use of plastic water bottles is good for your health.
There are two types of plastic of concern. Lexan polycarbonate resin, found in Nalgene bottles, is a plastic polymer widely used for single serve and one-gallon water bottles. Polyethylene terephthalate or “#1 plastic” is softer and a much more common plastic used for disposable drinking bottles of water, juice, soda, infant formula, pacifiers and most condiments, food wraps and dental sealants. IV bags, dialysis machines and blood transfusion bags also contain this plastic as do dermal adhesives for estrogen/testosterone hormone patches.
Both of these plastics contain bisphenol-A (BPA), which leaches into the water and is a potent hormone mimic/disruptor of female and male sex hormones. This plastic is spewed into the atmosphere by incinerators, which may explain why many animals in the wild have been found with this plastic in their tissues.
Newborns have measurable levels that tend to be more elevated when mothers’ have had IVs or drunk from #1 plastic bottles. Plastic formula bottles raise levels still higher in infants. Leaching of BPA from the plastics is increased by time, heat and cleaning agents.
Our bodies cannot get rid of the average daily intake (3 mg), which tend to accumulate in most people, as do most toxins, over time.
The fact of bioaccumulation of toxins is denied for the most part by manufacturers of plastic products who argue that small doses do not hurt humans. This flies in the face of the way biologic organisms react to pollutants.
Our detoxification systems can get rid of only so much per day, and detox systems are already under stress with illness, disposal of excessive medications and anything else that generates free radicals, such as stress and injuries.
Another class of plastics, styrene (polystyrene #6), is found in styrofoam coffee cups, clear plastic drinking cups, deli containers, car exhaust, cigarette smoke and is the cause of the “new car smell” that a lot of people like. Polystryrene is the plastic wrap around most fruits, vegetables and meats in the grocery store. Blood levels go up every time you use Styrofoam.
Thalates (#1 plastic) are the number one body pollutant in humans by a factor of 10,000 over, for instance, heavy metals like cadmium and possibly mercury. Plasticizers tend to attach to the small cellular organelles called peroxisomes and genetic receptors (Peroxisome Proliferator – Activated Receptors). This results in damage to the chemical processes controlling the use of fatty acids, glucose, triglycerides, beta-oxidation of fats and phospholipids. In other words, they damage major cellular functions including the ability to regulate cholesterol.
The plastic industry unfortunately sights only the 11 published old studies funded by the chemical industry on safety of plastic use. By 1952, polycarbonate was created and it was already clear that it leached into foods. By 1999 analytical chemistry improved to the point which lead to 109 different studies showing thalates do accumulate at levels below “generally considered as safe” (GCAS) an FDA and EPA label, but a level, nonetheless, that was suspected of creating disease. By 2007, there were 130 animal studies identifying the hazards of low dose plasticizer exposure.
Chronic plastic exposure has an effect on animal sex organs including low sperm counts, infertility, congenital defects, deformities, precocious puberty with breast development (along with many other causes) and early menstrual periods in young females. Endometriosis can be exacerbated, thyroid problems have been documented and sustained elevations of cholesterol are some of the problems from these chemicals, thus the names “Environmental Endocrine Disruptors” or “Hormone Mimics.” Implications for humans are obvious; research is ongoing.
In the early 1980s, mothers were given DES (Diethel Stilbestrol) to save pregnancies, but some of the daughters born to those mothers developed cancer of the uterus. Biochemically, some of these plasticizers have very similar chemical structures to the DES carcinogenic molecule.
Diagnosing plastic pollution involves checking blood levels, but many of the plastics in question lodge outside of the vascular system in cellular organelles and are difficult to find. Plasticizer accumulation is suspected with elevated levels of fatty acids including arachidic, legnoceric, behenic, hexacosanoic and low levels of decosa hexacosanoic (DHA), the most important Omega-3 fatty acid for the brain and blood vessels.
Treatment steps include:
• Nutritional supplements that rev up your glucurnonodation liver detoxification pathway, which gets rid of plastics. Also helping the same liver system are the vegetables of the Brassica or Cruciferous vegetable family (cabbage, broccoli, brussel sprouts, cauliflower, radishes, mazuna, watercress, arugula, turnips, collard greens, kale and rutabaga.
• Far infrared sauna (the newer form of sauna) helps sweat many pollutants including plasticizers out of the subcutaneous fat. This is standardized technique in the Environment Health Center in Dallas, which is one of leading centers for treating toxic patients.
• Avoid buying foods contained in or wrapped in plastics whenever possible.
• Use glass or, even better, stainless steel bottles to transport and store clear tap water. If you install reverse osmosis or carbon filtration in your drinking supplies, so much the better to ensure safe water at your sink. For sources of water filters and reusable safe water bottles visit www.enviroproductsinc.com (1-800-592-8371) and Natural Lifestyle at www.natural-lifestyle.com. For old-fashion glass baby bottles call American Environmental Health Foundation at 800-752-2775. For stainless steel drinking bottles visit www.kleankanteen.com (800-767-3173) or at Bodin’s on the Lake in Ashland.
Not using plastic significantly lowers your carbon footprint and is a great way to save the energy costs of producing and recycling plastic and transporting bottled water over long distances for sale at local outlets.
Bottled water is about to take a hit for all of these reasons. Turn to glass or stainless steel drinking containers. They’re better for your health and the environment.
Dr. James Hamp is a Board-certified Otolaryngologist, a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, and a Fellow of the American Academy of Otolaryngic Allergy. He can be reached at ENT Professional Associates in Ashland, Wisconsin, or Ironwood, Michigan, or online at www.drhamp.com.
#1, Polyethylene terephthalate (PET); used in beverage bottles, boil in the bag pouches, microwave food trays
#2, High density polyethylene (MDPE); used in trash bags, detergent bottles, milk jugs, base cups of large soda bottles
#3, Vinyl (V); used in cooking oil bottles, meat packaging
#4, Low density polypropylene (LDPE); used in bread bags, food film wraps, grocery produce bags
#5, Polypropylene (PP); used in margarine tubs, straws, shampoo bottles, yogurt containers, syrup bottles
#6, Polystyrene (PS); used in styrofoam® coffee cups, egg cartons, clamshell fast food containers, egg cartons, clear variety in deli containers and plastic cups
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