We had a guest lecturer in one of my classes today who talked all about something I don't think about much, but probably should think about right now having consumed approx. 3 lbs of processed, preservative-packed and flavor enhanced CANDY in the last 24 hours. (I don't know exactly what's in the center of Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, it's not peanut butter, it's something much, much tastier.)
Anyhoo, this lecturer spoke about the history of chemicals in our foods (most of it comes from the plastic bottles and wrappers that our food comes in (which chemicals then leach into the food), as well as fertilizers and pesticides and hormones used in growing and producing our foods. Most of this was brought to us by the technology and manufacturing know-how of post-WWII and the huge petrochemical companies that resulted from it and stopped making war stuff and started making consumer goods.
Apparently, for a long time the FDA and scientists have known that these chemicals are potentially dangerous, but through a series of investigations, research, law suits with chemical companies, etc. the law has mostly settled on a "low dose" allowance, meaning these chemicals are allowed in food in certain levels.
Lately, though, there has been an alarm about a certain kind of chemical called "endocrine receptors." Even in low doses, these chemicals seep into our endocrine systems and can cause hormonal changes that have been linked to cancers, diabetes, reproductive organ problems, etc.
But here's the kicker. The effects of these chemicals doesn't show up so much in the organism that digests it, so much as in their offspring. The timing of exposure is crucial, and embryonic exposure is the most powerful.
So. If most of these chemicals were introduced post-WWII, and my parents were some of the first generation to digest them in mass amounts, that means the receptacle of those chemicals is ME.
This has really made me start thinking about the role of women and mothers and health. USA Today ran a series of stories yesterday about an estrogen receptor called "Bisphenol A" or BPA that is under fire because it is used heavily in baby bottles, and introduces large amounts of this chemical to infants. Moms, check it out here.
The lecturer ended by noting that yes, most of us synthetic-age first-worlders have been born with hundreds of chemicals in our bodies; we shouldn't so much freak out as be aware. Because this is becoming a hot topic, it is becoming highly politicized as huge economic stakes are at play. What we need to think about, she said, (and I think especially women) is the relationship between prosperity and public health, what has been driving this proliferation, and what we, as consumers and citizens, can do to assert rights to clean water, food, and bodies.
That gives me something to think about while I polish off this bottled water and the last of my plastic-wrapped fun-size Snickers. What do you think? Does anyone know more about this?
6 comments:
I don't like candy bars so I think I'm safe.
Yeah, right. Thanks for the head's up. At least we'll all go down together. I guess if it's not the cancer that'll get us, it will be the chemicals ... which cause the cancer. Crap.
I switched over to a BPA-free water bottle last year. There are more and more BPA-free plastics on the market every year. I think it is very important to be aware and avoid processed foods that tend to come in these packages. Thanks, Lane for the great discussion topic.
Thanx for the timely info. This has concerned me for years. Don't worry too much about contamination from my generation, tho. Candy bars were a rare and big treat---mini size didn't exist and a water bottle would have been laughed off the planet!
It's funny how we must know that the stuff can't be good for us, just by looking at it, but we manage to avoid thinking about it and processing the idea until it gets shoved in our face. It's weird to me that humans are the bosses of the planet (to some degree) even though we have developed the laziest, most willfully ignorant survival instincts of any animal I can think of... Even a naked mole rat.
Thanks for the comments, ladies. Celeste, I was hoping you'd have something to say about this.
LOL Pam about the water bottles :)
I think I can give up candy bars--it's milk and water and vegetables and meat and other basic stuff that's chemically-enhanced/ pesticided that will be tougher :( They call these the "everywhere chemicals" because they're so ubiquitous. ARgh.
So you are thinking a lot about the role of mothers in societal health. What are you really trying to tell us? A call for cousins.
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