The perils of plastic

Source: Time Magazine

With the massive increase in the use of industrial chemicals throughout the second half of the 20th century, scientists have grown increasingly concerned about the effects these synthetics might be having on our bodies. The CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention) recently conducted a bio-monitoring survey and found traces of 212 environmental chemicals in Americans.

Of particular concern to scientists were the abundance of toxic metals, pesticides, flame-retardants, and percholorate, which is an ingredient in rocket fuel. Although the effects of these chemicals are still being understood by scientists, they have been linked to obesity, autism, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. The rampant use of these chemicals, which are extremely prevalent in the plastics industry, has prompted the Obama administration to start investigating the possible effects of chemicals such as BPA and its effects on the human body.

The government investigation appears long overdue given the findings of the CDC and it may, in fact, lead to the EPA actually putting some regulatory force behind the Toxic Substance Control Act of 1976.