phthalates in the news

So, a pretty important study was released today from Taiwan regarding the impact of exposure to phthalates during pregnancy.  Essentially the data has proven that mother’s can pass on the hormone altering chemical while the child is in utero, resulting in deformities, according to Environmental Health News.

 

Amniotic fluid and urine samples from 65 pregnant women undergoing amniocentesis were analyzed for five kinds of phthalates. At birth, the researchers measured the distance from the anus to the genitals in both male and female babies. This measure is called the anogenital distance (AGD) and indicates abnormal sexual development (specifically, differentiation) in the womb.

The metabolite monobutyl phthalate (MBP) in the amniotic fluid and urine was correlated in all newborns. This means the pollutant was able to pass from the mother, through the placenta and into the fetal circulation system.

Phthalates is a chemical that is, most commonly used, in the synthesis of plastics, but has also been found in fragrance used in everyday household items.  It acts as a hormone mimicker and has been linked to a higher occurrence of cancers, genital deformities and learning disabilities.

This is just another example proving that the approval of the chemical was premature on the part of the FDA and the chemical companies.

iron’t you glad we didn’t follow through

We have been closely following developments of  the ship that has been heading to the Antarctic to dump loads of iron into the ocean.  

About a month ago, researchers had discovered that by dumping iron into the ocean, may create an algae bloom, that would then suck up a whole bunch of carbon dioxide. Obviously, the idea of this working would be fantastic.  But many people voiced concern ranging from what it would do to the ecosystem all the way to was it even legal under international law.

Well, all of the discussion may not make much of a difference.  New evidence is emerging that the iron may not suck up as much carbon dioxide as originally hoped, according to the New Scientist.

In fact it may be 80 times less effective than originally assumed.  There are some cases in which bloom is limited because of too much iron in the water, thereby not working to trap carbon.

What this all means, at least to us, is that much more research needs to be done to determine the efficacy of such an experiment.

don’t bite the hand that feeds you

We all remember the drama surrounding the big auto bailout, with the CEO’s from the Detroit Three showing up in their private planes.  

Well, here is another tale that should be filed with the absurd.

Prior to the bailout the auto companies had filed suit against individual state EPA’s over their amendments to Clean Air Acts and emissions standards, for example what is happening in California.  Apparently, after taking taxpayer money and promising as part of the stimulus that they will pursue new ‘greener’ options in car manufacture… they are still moving forward with all of their lawsuits!!

California’s attorney general, Jerry Brown, observed today on NPR, “The irony here is the auto companies want a bailout, in many ways because they weren’t building the kind of cars that were compatible with today’s energy market—and at the same time, they want to keep going with their lawsuits, which have already cost millions and millions of dollars.”

You know what the saddest part of this whole thing is, however?  That we, the citizens, will probably do absolutely nothing in fighting the auto industry for this audacity.  The money that has come to these corporations is being taken out of our future holdings either through Social Security or the fact that we will have to pay back the Federal Reserve interest from all of these loans.  That we are going to sit by and allow this to happen is an atrocity.

This was first reported through the New Yorker.

daily cartoon

This is a great cartoon that represents this ridiculousness behind the bottled water industry.

bpa lingers

 

Researchers from the Univeristy of Rochester in NY have found that Bisphenol-A lingers in the body longer than first expected.  The significance of which is that the longer the chemical is in the body, the more likely it is to cause harm, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Most often BPA is transferred to the body through plastic products like water bottles, baby bottles, re-usable food storage containers, and the like.  This study found that the transfer can also occur through plastic water pipes, like those that might be found in your home, and dust off of carbonless paper, for example a receipt.

The American Chemistry Council still maintains that BPA is safe.  There has been a lot of debate in the various studies of the safety of Bisphenol-A.  Arguments for safety is that the studies that had the largest sample population, therefore the study deemed statistically significant, has shown the chemical to be safe.  However, these studies were done by the chemical companies making the product, which is a $6 billion per year chemical.  Many of the independent studies, performed by chemical researchers throughout the world, have shown time after time that BPA results in cancers, genital deformities, sterility, brain disorders, and the list goes on.

This latest data indicates that either people are being constantly bombarded with exposure to BPA, from non-food sources, or they are storing the chemical in their fat cells and are unable to effectively rid them from their bodies.  Either way, if you believe the data that this chemical is dangerous, this does not bode well for the future health of the human population.

a thousand years of solitude

 

Research out of Boulder, CO is indicating that climate change due to increases in carbon dioxide is irreversible and will last 1000 years, according to the Environmental News Service.

The study was done by scientists with the NOAA, led by Dr. Susan Solomon.  The group studied models of allowing the carbon dioxide to reach peak concentrations and then completely halted the emissions after the peak. They found that the scientific evidence is strong enough to quantify some irreversible climate impacts, including rainfall changes in certain key regions, and global sea level rise.

If carbon dioxide is allowed to rise to 450-600 parts per million from its current value of 385 parts per million, and then CO2 emissions completely cease, the results would include persistent decreases in dry-season rainfall that are comparable to the 1930s North American Dust Bowl in zones including southern Europe, northern Africa, southwestern North America, southern Africa, and western Australia.

The data emphasizes that any carbon emissions in this century, essentially ‘lock-in” a sea level rise that will stay for the next 1000 years.  This research shows that carbon dioxide levels and the ocean work hand in hand to impact when happens on the planet.  Heating of the planet due to increase in carbon dioxide, creates an environment for sea level rising, which then makes it difficult for the carbon dioxide to escape the atmosphere.

why we should move away from plastics

First, a digression:  Have you guys heard of Stumble Upon?

Oh my word, it is ever addicting.  It happens in two ways.  The first way is by adding the ‘stumble’ button to your internet browser. Anytime you are in need of something new, you hit the button and stumble to a new website.  The other way it works is when you see the “stumble” button on a website you are visiting… see the column on the right hand side for this website’s button… hit the button!  The website gets voted as something you think others would like to see.

The point:  there are a lot of interesting things on the web that you can ‘stumble upon’.

For example, THIS slide show we found about plastic bags.  We would never have found out about this without the brilliance of Stumble… very grateful!

the man who holds the future

 

Who is Todd Stern?  And, why should you care?

We are coming upon a time when the global community will be reviewing, reevaluating and rewriting the Kyoto Protocol.  This is the document that each and every country will have to agree to in our win over climate change.

Todd Stern is the man who is representing YOU in those talks.

Hillary Clinton appointed him yesterday to head a larger group of people responsible that will be known as the Global Climate Change Envoy, stating:

“As we take steps at home, we will also vigorously pursue negotiations, those sponsored by the United Nations and those at the sub-global, regional and bilateral level, that can lead to binding international climate agreements,” Clinton said.  “No solution is feasible without all major emitting nations joining together and playing an important part.”

Todd Stern was a senior White House advisor under President Clinton, so maybe it won’t surprise you that Hillary Clinton appointed him to his latest position.  However, please do not assume this is just nepotism.  His credentials do justify this role.

Time Magazine has published some facts about Mr. Sterns:

Law degree from Harvard in 1977 and After completing his law degree, Stern served as an attorney for the Legal Aid Society for two years, followed by more than a decade working for private firms

Under President Clinton, he was the senior White House negotiator at the Kyoto Protocol negotiations, which called for the stabilization of greenhouse gas emissions.

Currently a senior fellow at the think tank Center for American Progress, where he focuses on climate change and environmental issues. He is also a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and a vice chair of public policy for the law firm Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr.

“Evaporation and rainfall are increasing; glaciers are retreating; sea ice is shrinking; sea level is rising; permafrost is melting; wildfires are increasing; storm and flood damage is soaring. The canary in the coal mine is singing for all she’s worth.” — on reading the signs of climate change (Center for American Progress, May 28, 2004)

crystalline fructose

 

The body doesn’t handle large amounts of fructose well. You can maintain life with intravenous glucose, but not with intravenous fructose; severe derangement of liver function results. There’s also evidence that a high intake of fructose elevates levels of circulating fats (serum triglycerides), increasing the risk of heart disease. I never use fructose in my home.  dr. andrew weil

 

So, there is a new criminal in town.  Seems to be the next generation of high fructose corn syrup.  But this guy is even more devious placing himself in “healthy” drinks. 

I am referring to crystalline fructose.  It is produced by allowing HFCS to crystallize. It is then dried and milled into the desired particle size for packaging.  As a result, it is 100% fructose.  

Fructose is not the best thing for your body.  Fructose exists in foods as either a monosaccharide (free fructose) or as a disaccharide (sucrose). Free fructose does not undergo digestion; however when fructose is consumed in the form of sucrose, digestion occurs entirely in the upper small intestine. As sucrose comes into contact with the membrane of the small intestine, the enzyme sucrase catalyzes the cleavage of sucrose to yield one glucose and fructose unit. Fructose, passes through the small intestine, virtually unchanged, then enters the portal vein and is directed toward the liver.

I know that is a lot of information, so lets see if I can make it a bit more understandable.  When fructose is in the presence of sucrose, your body has a better chance of understanding what to do with it in terms of breaking it down and processing it.  When it stands alone, your body does not know how to metabolize the molecule, so it sends it right to your liver.  This results in the fattening of the liver, or cirrhosis.  So, why is this important.  Well, HFCS is a blend of 45% sucrose and 55% fructose.  Therefore, to an extent your body knows what to do in its presence.  In contrast, crystalline fructose is 100% fructose.  This means you have an even higher chance of developing fatty liver.  

(edit. note.: I do not want this to be used as justification for allowing consumption of HFCS.  HFCS has its own list of harmful reasons to stop ingesting it.  In this example, I am just focusing on the metabolism of the fructose molecule.)

Here is another reason to avoid crystalline fructose…. arsenic.  Yes.  The processing of this molecule allows for acceptable levels of arsenic, heavy metals, lead and chloride.  Again, these are toxic chemicals that your body is unable to process.  The impact on your health is immeasurable.  While, a simple serving of the drink might not be bad, over time the build up of any one of these components can lead to death.  

The biggest reason this particular molecule is so bad is because of the products it is being placed in: health drinks.  Vitamin Water seems to be the most popular of the beverages, but other examples are FUZE, Mistic, SoBe, Snapple and W20 for Women.

There is an entire category of beverage, marketed as healthful for you and your body, most commonly encouraged to drink after your work-out.  In reality, you would be better off drinking a Coke after a hard exercise routine, as compared to Vitamin Water.

This is just another example of how the food industry and the corn industry have managed to get a toxic substance into the food you eat.  As people get away from HFCS, there is something to easily replace it.  And as people become more aware of CF, there will be another substitution.  This is an ongoing process that is damaging the health of Americans.

other ghg on the rise, more deadly

Carbon dioxide may be the least of our worries when it comes to greenhouse gases.  While it makes up over 70% of the GHG’s, it is the least harmful offender. Many studies are showing that more harmful gases are on the rise in the atmosphere, according to a report from Discover Magazine.

One such gas is Nitrogen Triflouride (NF3).  This is released in the production of microchips and flat screen televisions.  While it makes up a small percentage, by comparison, it is much more dangerous.  

This particular gas is increasingly being released by 11% each year.  It is 17,000 more times effective at trapping heat in the atmosphere and remains for 550 years.  In contrast, carbon dioxide has a half life of 20 years.

The other gas that is on the rise is methane.  This gas is released from landfills, melting glaciers and permafrost, and livestock flatulence.  More can be found about that by going to this article.

The point to reporting this is to understand and inform the public of new developments in climate science.

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