Tag Archives: bisphenol a

BPA can induce multigenerational effects on ability to communicate

Findings could shed light on human health concerns and autism

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Past studies have shown that biparental care of offspring can be affected negatively when females and males are exposed to bisphenol A (BPA); however, previous studies have not characterized how long-term effects of BPA exposure in grandmothers and grandfathers might affect offspring communication ability. (more…)

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Donau so bunt: Mehr Plastikmüll als Jungfische in Europas zweitgrößtem Fließgewässer

Alarmierende Ergebnisse liefern LimnologInnen der Universität Wien: Sie führten im Zuge eines Forschungsprojekts über Jungfische in der Donau erstmals eine Mengenabschätzung der Plastikfracht in Europas zweitgrößtem Fließgewässer durch und fanden heraus, dass die Donau in den Uferbereichen zwischen Wien und Bratislava mehr Plastikpartikel als Fischlarven transportiert. Dieses Ergebnis publiziert ein Team um Hubert Keckeis im Fachjournal “Environmental Pollution”.

Plastikmüll akkumuliert sich weltweit in sämtlichen Ökosystemen. Diesbezügliche Studien in Gewässern fokussieren fast ausschließlich auf die Situation in den Meeren; allgemein bekannt sind die riesigen schwimmenden Plastikteppiche im Atlantik und Pazifik. Sämtliche bisher untersuchten und beschriebenen Konsequenzen, die sich durch die Anreicherung von Plastik in marinen Systemen ergeben, sind auch in Flüssen zu befürchten. (more…)

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Are developing heart valves sensitive to environmental chemicals?

Baltimore, MD — Exposure to environmental endocrine disrupters, such as bisphenol A, which mimic estrogen, is associated with adverse health effects. Bisphenol A is commonly found in plastic bottles and plastic food containers. New research from a team including Carnegie’s Daniel Gorelick and Marnie Halpern on the effects of these chemicals on zebrafish shows that embryonic heart valves could be particularly in danger. It is published by Environmental Health Perspectives.

Estrogen hormones are important in all stages of life. They work by binding to receptors inside a cell, which then travel to the nucleus and act on the DNA by turning select genes on and off. But some synthetic chemicals mimic these estrogen hormones by also binding to the receptors. Exposure to them during early development is associated with increased risk of cancers and abnormal formation of the reproductive tract. So detecting such chemicals and identifying their mechanisms of action is of great importance for developmental scientists. (more…)

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Plastiktüte, Plastik und ihre Alternativen

In Europa wird der herkömmlichen Tüte der Kampf angesagt – zu Recht

Plastiktüten haben unendlich viele Aufgaben: Von der Mülltüte über die Einkaufstragetasche oder die Schulbrottüte bis hin zum europaweiten Symbol für Verschwendung und überflüssigen Müll. Ihre Stärken sind Stabilität, Haltbarkeit und ein geringes Gewicht. Diese sind jedoch zugleich auch ihre Schwäche: Landet die Kunststofffolie in der Natur, verbleibt sie dort jahrzehntelang und wird zur Gefahr für Tiere und Menschen. Die konservativste Schätzung geht davon aus, dass jede/r Deutsche fast 70 Tüten im Jahr verbraucht – hier sind Obstbeutelchen, Abfallsäcke und zusätzliche Verpackungsfolien nicht mitgerechnet. (more…)

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Bisphenol A Affects Sex-Specific Reproductive Behaviors in a Monogamous Animal Species, Says MU Researcher

Animal Findings Suggest That Gender May Also Influence Chemical Exposure Risks for Humans

COLUMBIA, Mo. — Parents, teachers and psychologists know boys and girls behave differently. However, that difference isn’t taken into account by most methods used to assess the risk to children from chemical exposure, according to Cheryl Rosenfeld, associate professor of biomedical sciences in the University of Missouri’s Bond Life Sciences Center. A series of experiments by Rosenfeld studied the effects of prenatal exposure to bisphenol A (BPA) on later reproductive-associated behaviors using a socially and genetically monogamous rodent, the California mouse, which may better mirror most human societies than other rodents. (more…)

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Green-Glowing Fish Provides New Insights into Health Impacts of Pollution

Understanding the damage that pollution causes to both wildlife and human health is set to become much easier thanks to a new green-glowing zebrafish.

Created by a team from the University of Exeter, the fish makes it easier than ever before to see where in the body environmental chemicals act and how they affect health.

The fluorescent fish has shown that oestrogenic chemicals, which are already linked to reproductive problems, impact on more parts of the body than previously thought.

The research by the University of Exeter and UCL (University College London) is published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives. (more…)

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Study Suggests That Being Too Clean Can Make People Sick

ANN ARBOR, Mich.— Young people who are overexposed to antibacterial soaps containing triclosan may suffer more allergies, and exposure to higher levels of Bisphenol A among adults may negatively influence the immune system, a new University of Michigan School of Public Health study suggests.

Triclosan is a chemical compound widely used in products such as antibacterial soaps, toothpaste, pens, diaper bags and medical devices. Bisphenol A (BPA) is found in many plastics and, for example, as a protective lining in food cans. Both of these chemicals are in a class of environmental toxicants called endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs), which are believed to negatively impact human health by mimicking or affecting hormones. (more…)

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Plastic Kitchenware: Use At Your Own Risk

Plastic dishes and packaging were very rare during the Soviet times. Practically all Russians remember the time when groceries were packed in grey or brown paper. Soviet food stores did not even use polyethylene film: sausages, butter, fish and even sea cabbage would be wrapped in packing paper when sold to customers. (more…)

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