As managing editor of I saw Nicholas Kristof's op-ed column about bisphenol A in The New York Times a few days ago, but I wasn't going to post a comment in the blog because he didn't appear to cover any new ground.
But it's noteworthy that -- to Times readers at least -- the column seems to be getting a lot of attention. The column has been hovering near the top of the newspaper's Web site list of most popular stories most of the day.
Since many readers look to Kristof for his opinion, here's what he has to say about BPA:
While the evidence isn't conclusive, it justifies precautions. In my family, we're cutting down on the use of those plastic containers that contain BPA to store or microwave food, and I'm drinking water out of a metal bottle now. In my reporting around the world, I've come to terms with the threats from warlords, bandits and tarantulas. But endocrine disrupting chemicals -- they give me the willies.
BPA safety is a pretty high priority issue these days -- not as "hot" as global warming, of course. But between BPA and marine debris, there's no doubt that plastics will continue to face plenty of legislative, and regulatory, pressure in 2010.
Comments (1)
At least the story is featuring the fact that BPA can be found in metal cans, something that most of us in plastic industry knew all along, but was absent from most mainstream news articles.
As far as damaging the polycarbonate industry, it has not hurt us: the majority of the PC items that we make are not for food or drug use - they are industrial. The resultant increase in availability of polycarbonate (along with more stable prices) makes it more economical.
Despite the above paragraph, I am a defender of the industry and will readily attempt to educate people who express fears that there is an inherent and imminent danger in using Polycarbonate items.
In the 70s, it was styrenics as a "known cancer agent"
In the 80s, it was acetal.
(Today, the above two materials are widely used and there is very little negative press about them)
In the 90s, PVC (which still rages on)
Now it's polycarbonate's turn in the negative spotlight.
* If plastics are leaking carcinogens into our food, that food probably already contains far more carcinogens that are naturally occurring. Thousands of foods naturally contain chemicals found to cause cancer in rodents but which have not been shown to be carcinogenic in humans.
* ref: http://www.acsh.org/healthissues/newsID.1021/healthissue_detail.asp
Posted by Mike Frey | November 10, 2009 12:48 PM
Posted on November 10, 2009 12:48