Can plastic make you sick?
Every day we come into contact with plasticizers, which are part of various plastics. Studies show that the chemicals can disturb the human hormonal system.
Environment chemicals fall increasingly targeted by physicians, particularly endocrinologists, specialists for the hormonal balance. A group of particularly critical chemical compounds are the phthalates, plasticizers that are added mainly in PVC plastics and which can affect the human hormone balance, as well as other metabolic processes. One finds plasticizer in films for sealing and dams, in floor coverings, cables, toys, cosmetics and plastic containers. Also in the medical products business, like houses, gloves and oxygen masks they exist. Meanwhile four different phthalates are already banned in children’s toys and cosmetics, but constantly diving new species of this group of substances, whose potential risks are not yet explored.
Decisive for the loading of the organism are not the individual concentrations in certain groups. That it depended on the sum of all loads that could only be determined through a blood or urine test. Because it could be that certain substances, although below the allowable limits are, but they certainly have in their sum a detrimental effect on the hormonal status of man. In a study of eleven schools in US showed that 24 percent of five to six-year olds, the maximum permissible load is exceeded. In the United States a study on pregnant women also reveals alarming results. These results would have the use of phthalates are considered even more critical than previously.
Obesity and diabetes as consequences of phthalates?
It has been known that there may be harmful effects especially in unborn children by phthalates. They suppress the production of testosterone during sexual maturation and may lead to so-called Phthalate Syndrome, an emasculation, which is accompanied by malformations of the external genitalia, undescended testicles and limitations of fertility. This relationship is proved only in animal studies on male rats. Although in humans an increase in testicular dysgenesis syndrome is observed during several years, has great similarity with the Phthalate Syndrome but a gapless evidence of a link with the increasing exposure to environmental chemicals in humans is not yet available.
A new study shows only that the softener can also lead to obesity and diabetes. Almost 240 studies, showed that among the causes of obesity and diabetes are also hormonal pollutants. Already previous studies indicate on a relationship. So much more phthalates were found in adipose tissue than slimmer people in adipose tissue of obese. Some companies that manufacture plastics, seem to be aware of present problems, and advertise that no phthalates occur in the products which they use. On the homepage of the US Environmental Protection Agency, there is a list of products that they are produced without phthalates.