Running head: AVOIDING OBESITY RELATED TO BPA IN PLASTIC MATERIALS Avoiding Obesity Related to BPA in Plastic Materials Judith de la Incera. 1 AVOIDING OBESITY RELATED TO BPA IN PLASTIC MATERIALS 2 Avoiding Obesity related to BPA in plastic materials Abstract Since the early 1960s, plastic companies have produced a chemical known as Bisphenol A in the manufacturing of containers and other plastic items. Through various destructive mechanisms such as the potential disruption of the endocrine, and result in the interference with metabolic processes, the chemical contributes substantially to the rising cases of obesity in individuals. The matter becomes complex by the fact that in America and many other countries, most people prefer to use plastics in the process of packaging their foods. To demonstrate the manner in which the process of using plastic materials contributes to the cases of obesity, a study examined students from three schools in Atlanta, Georgia. The learners were drawn from a one elementary level school, one middle-level school, and one high school. In this research, an average of 98% of the students participated (Barlow, 2009). Qualified and properly trained research staff members collected urine from the students and measurements of the BPA concentration as well. Additionally, the research team received the anthropometric data that would be used in determining the possible causes of obesity. Moreover, the team sought to know the lifestyles of the pupils to collect sufficient information that could be useful in determining the risk factors for obesity in this group of people. The relationship emerged from the analysis that there is a significant relationship between people who had a high concentration of BPA in their urine and people were obese. Additionally, it emerged that the rates at which BPA concentration in urine leads to obesity in males are very different from the way it manifests itself among females. That fact is useful since it provides an avenue to find means that would respond to both male and female compositions in terms of BPA AVOIDING OBESITY RELATED TO BPA IN PLASTIC MATERIALS 3 concentration. The gender differences that emerge in this study are consistent with previous papers that suggest that susceptibility to obesity is different among males and females in society. On April 14th, 2008, the debate on BPA in plastics reached another level of discussion when it appeared on the headlines of the Washington Post. Concerning its safety debate, there were many commercial, political and scientific interests involved. America alone produces a billion dollars’ worth of BPA products in the market each year. Thus, due to the economic interests that are involved, there is likely to be political heat. The political players would like to appease the electorate by encouraging job creation as opposed to the killing off industries. Scientifically, however, research shows that there is a significant relationship that exists between BPA in plastic materials and the rising cases of obesity among American citizens (Ben-Jonathan & Brandebourg, 2009). Consequently, the widespread application of BPA in the entire globe has contributed significantly to the worldwide obesity epidemic. In that regard, this research sought to provide the possible mechanisms that can be deployed to avoid or possibly drastically reduce the instances of obesity that are associated with BPA in plastic materials. . AVOIDING OBESITY RELATED TO BPA IN PLASTIC MATERIALS 4 Background In the recent decades, the world has seen a soaring increase in the number of obesity among populations. The most intriguing part of this realization is that most of the new cases are children. In the United States, statistics indicate that an average of 20% of children is obese. With this realization, it has become important that all the stakeholders including the government seek the factors that contribute to this trend and make necessary improvements (Lang et al, 2008). Obesity is a condition that contributes to some health complications among those affected especially children. Ordinarily, it predisposes the children to the type 2 diabetes, hypertension, coronary heart disease and stroke. Besides, the children stand the risk of developing kidney and liver diseases. Traditionally, people have linked obesity to eating habits among the various communities. However, in the face of the increase in the cases of obesity amidst the different healthy eating habits that the society has decided to adopt, it becomes necessary to examine other factors that could be aiding this development. Besides, emerging evidence from research activities globally that link obesity to other environmental factors apart from the diet makes it necessary to adopt new measures to combat the problem. The environmental factors that cause obesity are collectively called environmental obesogens. The environmental obesogens are the environmental components that have been recognized to can fuel the chances of obesity among human beings. BPA is one of the potential obesogens that researchers have found to be at the forefront in increasing the epidemic of obesity among persons. Sadly, every day, most human beings are in one way or another exposed to these chemicals, and that exposes them to obesity. In the recent times, some researchers have come up with different opinion suggesting that the human biological system is properly equipped to handle these harmful substances. However, several research results prove otherwise. It is, AVOIDING OBESITY RELATED TO BPA IN PLASTIC MATERIALS 5 therefore, necessary to provide relevant information to reduce the numbers of obese people, especially among the children. The general belief is that it is possible for people to come up with alternative ways with which they can carry out their activities and at the same time avoid exposure to BPA. In that regard, this paper holds that plastic materials that individuals use in their daily lives have a huge responsibility to play in the increase in the number of obesity among persons in all communities. It is therefore incredibly important to seek alternative chemical components that can be used in the manufacturing of plastics so that the people do not experience these problems. Besides, chemical users can resort to other materials that do not contain such harmful substances. In the end, the study will present some of the choices that individuals can make to avoid BPA. AVOIDING OBESITY RELATED TO BPA IN PLASTIC MATERIALS 6 Literature review Zuckerman et al., 2015 had the following to say concerning obesity and the chemical. In their piece of work, the researchers begin by taking note of the fact that the use of BPAmanufactured materials is on the rise in the United States. They uncover that the chemical is used in the manufacturing of a wide range of materials that include the coating of food and beverage cans, making of water bottles, manufacturing of sports equipment as well as medical devices alongside other materials. That fact is meant to demonstrate that almost all the spheres of the society contain materials whose chemical components include the harmful BPA. In 2012, the Food and Drug Administration in the United States banned the use of BPA in baby bottles. The agency take into consideration the fact that there is a myriad of problems that accompany the use of the substance among children. The report indicates that the problem with this chemical is that the moment it receives even the slightest amount of heat, it detaches from the item which it coats and then mixes with the hot liquids (NTP, 2008). When consumed, it initiates some activities in the body which normal endocrine function. Expectant mothers who are exposed to the chemical stand the chance of exposing their unborn babies to the chemical as well. Thus, a baby may become obese due to the contact with the BPA that was consumed by the mother during the pregnancy. In the year 2009, a group of researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health conducted research to determine the ways in which plastic materials affected the health of individuals through the various drinks that they use. Some students were given cold drinks from plastic bottles for two weeks. After this period, the scientists conducted tests on their urine and discovered that the amounts of BPA in their urine increased by more than two-thirds. In this AVOIDING OBESITY RELATED TO BPA IN PLASTIC MATERIALS 7 study, the liquid in the containers was not hot and yet there was a notable presence of BPA in the blood samples that were collected. If the liquids were hot, the chances were high that the BPA content in the system would be much greater. The data clearly demonstrated that using plastic materials in handling human food results in the increase of BPA in the human body. In April 2008, the lead researcher from Harvard School of Public Health collected a group of students to carry out an experiment. A total of seventy-seven (77) students were involved. At the onset of the experiment, the students were given water to drink from stainless steel containers for one week. The primary purpose of this exercise was to carry out a washout procedure that would result in minimum exposure to BPA (La Pense et al, 2008). After this first stage, the urine of the students was collected and the BPA contents measured. After the first phase, the students were provided with beverages to drink from polycarbonate bottles. After a week of this exercise, the students were again requested to give urine. The researchers compared the contents of BPA in the urine after the two weeks of the test. The results showed that there is a significant difference in the BPA levels in urine that was produced after drinking beverages in plastic containers and from the stainless-steel materials. One of the strengths of this study from the Harvard School of Public Health is that it was conducted in normal circumstances and the students drank from the two sets of containers in standard settings. There was no modification to any materials. The essence of this benefit is that if the researchers would have requested individual plastic containers that had been given different quantities of the chemical, then the authenticity of the research would be in doubt since the materials were not the ones that are used by people in ordinary circumstances. Additionally, the fact that the students did not expose the elements to heat makes the research believable since AVOIDING OBESITY RELATED TO BPA IN PLASTIC MATERIALS 8 it has been determined that heat has the capacity of removing the chemical that usually exists on the surface of the containers. During the time when the study was conducted, there was a debate in America and other developed nations on the impacts that these materials have on the general well-being of the people. In that regard, some agencies, departments, and organizations sought scientific proof that the chemical had serious health ramifications on the users. In that vein, some organizations, including Harvard University Center for the Environment among others, sponsored the study. There was a tremendous desire to determine if indeed the BPA or the eating habits could be responsible obesity among people. Some individuals, politicians, say something to the effect that they have invested interest in plastic products, and plastic materials industry players have always held a misconception that BPA does not have the capacity to interfere with the proper functioning of the body. Some of these persons hold that the human body is sufficiently equipped to break down these chemicals and turn them into substances that would be harmless to the body. It is necessary to prove that this position is unscientific and misleading. A piece of research from Health Canada suggests that it is incorrect to insinuate that the body can break down BPA into substances that do not pose any threat to the body. In line with this assumption, the research demonstrates that the liver is not able to metabolize the BPA substance inactive metabolites. Within six hours after the body is exposed to the substance, the liver metabolizes approximately half of the BPA concentration that has got into the body. Most of this substance is metabolized into a simpler substance called the glucuronide which the body can excrete to prove their point; the researchers injected the metabolized material into a mouse and a human cell. AVOIDING OBESITY RELATED TO BPA IN PLASTIC MATERIALS 9 From this activity, it became apparent that there was a massive accumulation of lipid. The intention of this was to determine whether glucuronide was an inactive substance as had been indicated by other scholars. The principle that the scientists used in this case is the fact that not all human cells are able to accumulate fats. In that regard, if the cells that do not accumulate fats are found to have lipids only after the injection of the metabolized substance, then that would be a clear signal that glucuronide is indeed biologically active. While it is true that the liver plays a major role in filtering the chemicals that get into the body and protect them from causing damage to the body, it is also true that it does not do the cleaning. That is, the liver does not have the capacity to remove harmful substances from the body. That realization flies right in the face of arguments that the human body can convert BPA into other forms of elements which it can then harmlessly excrete from the system. Finally, in the 1980s, there was an increase in the production of BPA in America. Records indicate that the manufacturers produced billions of BPA materials. During this time, the various stakeholders became concerned and sought to find the effects of the materials especially about obesity. In 1988, the National Toxicology program carried out research and made publications on the health effects that arise from the continued use of the substance in materials. In the 1988 findings, the researchers found that there is a direct link between the utilization of the chemicals and the increase in the cases of obesity among people. The central argument of the researchers is that the chemical interferes with the endocrine system. The fact is that BPA is found to facilitate the production, processing, and transportation of hormones that disrupt the everyday functioning of the endocrine system. In the end, all the articles and publications point at a single trend that is caused by continued exposure to the substance. In that AVOIDING OBESITY RELATED TO BPA IN PLASTIC MATERIALS 10 regard, they point at a common trend in many communities where the continued use of BPAmanufactured materials contributes to obesity. The articles, therefore, call for the abolition of the chemicals in the making of plastic materials. AVOIDING OBESITY RELATED TO BPA IN PLASTIC MATERIALS 11 Methods and materials To confirm the effects of BPA in metabolic pathways, an investigation to be done. The best way to test the presence of BPA in the body is to use urine tests. Over the years, various studies have discovered some ways that can be used to determine the levels of BPA in the human body. The following is a description of the methods and materials that were used to confirm the presence and effects of BPA in the human system. For the purposes of this test, the dependent variable in the concentration of BPA in urine while the independent variables are drinking cold water from a plastic container, drinking warm water from a plastic container and drinking warm water from a glass. The controlled variable is the regulation of the temperature of water. The study composed of nine (9) males and eleven (11) females’ participants. To assess the effects and concentrations of BPA among the various age groups, the research used men ranging from 44 years to 12 years. The eldest female in the group was 46 years while the youngest was 11. In the process of recruiting the participants, there were some ethical standards that were considered. Firstly, the individuals were assured that the results of the study would be confidential and would only be shared with third parties upon their approval. Additionally, the selection considered the previous health records and lifestyles that could have an influence on the outcome. In the inquiry, ten participants were of ill health while the rest were of otherwise perfect health standards. The individuals who were not of good health were recruited by the author from previous medical practice. Once the participants had been identified, each participant was requested to provide a 200ml sample of blood, a sample of first-morning urine and a hundred (100) ml of sweat. After all these samples had been collected, they were then analyzed for both the demographical and clinical characteristics. The results were recorded in the table below; AVOIDING OBESITY RELATED TO BPA IN PLASTIC MATERIALS 12 Table 1 Mean and standard deviation of weight, height, and body mass index (BMI) among study participants Group No. (%) Weight (kg) Height (m) BMI (kg/m2) All 259 (100.0) 47.4 ± 16.5 1.47 ± 0.13 21.3 ± 4.6 8-9 64 (24.7) 32.5 ± 9.3 1.31 ± 0.06 18.7 ± 4.0 10-11 80 (30.9) 43.6 ± 11.2 1.45 ± 0.08 20.5 ± 3.7 12-13 75 (29.0) 54.6 ± 14.9 1.55 ± 0.09 22.3 ± 4.4 14-15 40 (15.4) 65.6 ± 12.9 1.62 ± 0.07 25.0 ± 4.6 Female 129 (49.8) 47.3 ± 15.1 1.48 ± 0.12 21.1 ± 4.3 Male 130 (50.2) 47.6 ± 17.9 1.46 ± 0.14 21.4 ± 4.9 Normal weight 124 (47.9) 36.7 ± 10.9 1.44 ± 0.14 17.4 ± 2.1 Overweight 53 (20.4) 52.8 ± 12.5 1.50 ± 0.13 23.0 ± 1.9 Obesity 82 (31.7) 60.1 ± 15.3 1.50 ± 0.12 26.0 ± 3.2 Age (years) Sex BMI AVOIDING OBESITY RELATED TO BPA IN PLASTIC MATERIALS 13 In grouping of the samples, urine was gathered using the vacutainer blood collection equipment that has over the years been recommended by the various medical regulatory agencies. 21-gauge stainless steel needles were also used together with vacutainer blood collection equipment to collect the sample. In the process, analysis of BPA in blood was collected in serum and the entire blood sample was not analyzed since there is a lower matrix effect on serum than on whole blood. Concerning urine, the individuals were instructed to provide the first-morning urine in a 500ml container that had a tight lid that was intended to prevent contamination. Finally, the participants were told to use suitable means to produce sweats that that were collect in a 500ml glass. Additionally, care was taken by the members to make sure that the sweat sample was not contaminated by any other foreign substances. The analytical methods For the analysis of the BPA levels in serum, the conventional procedures recommended by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention were used. Tests were braced with 12.5 nanograms of isotopically marked phthalate metabolites, 50 nanograms of named bisphenol-A, 250 nanograms of 4-methylumbelliferone glucuronide, 300 microliters of ammonium acetic acid derivation support (pH 6.5), and ten microliters of β-glucuronidase (Escherichia coli K12, Roche Biomedical). The examples were blended and brewed at 37°C overnight to take into consideration the de glucuronidation. Using enzymatic hydrolysis, a 20 uL aliquot of the sample is added to 70 uL of HPLCreview water and ten ng of marked 4-methylumbelliferone to decide de glucuronidation effectiveness (done once every 100 specimens). The rest of the example was stacked onto a Zymark Rapid Trace Station for mechanized active stage extraction (SPE). The 60 AVOIDING OBESITY RELATED TO BPA IN PLASTIC MATERIALS 14 milligram/3 mL Oasis-HLB cartridges got mixed with HPLC-review methanol (2 mL) and 0.1 M formic corrosive (2 mL). The examples were weakened with five mL of 0.1 M formic destructive and stacked onto the SPE cartridge at a rate of 1.0 mL/min. The cartridge was washed with water (1 mL) and 10% methanol in water (2 mL) at a stream rate of 1 mL/min. The examples were eluted with 1.0 mL of acetonitrile at a flow rate of 0.5 mL/min. The elate vanished to dryness under a flood of dry nitrogen, and the deposit was resuspended in 85% methanol in water (200 microliters) and exchanged to glass auto sampler vials. Quality control of the examination was kept up by breaking down a technique clear (calf serum) and two spiked calf serum tests (20 ng/mL, all analyzes) alongside each 17 trials. The examination was performed utilizing an API 4000 fluid chromatograph/couple mass spectrometer. AVOIDING OBESITY RELATED TO BPA IN PLASTIC MATERIALS 15 Results and discussion Table 2: The results for BPA in the tested body compartments: serum, urine, and sweat. Participan t Gende r Ag e Clinical diagnosis Seru m conc. Urin e conc. Swea t conc. Sweat/urin e ratio Techniqu e used for sweat collection 0 4 82 20.5 Exercise 1 M 61 Diabetes, obesity, hypertension 2 F 40 Rheumatoid arthritis 0 22 24 1.1 Steam sauna 3 M 38 Addiction disorder 0 20 22 1.1 Steam sauna 4 F 25 Bipolar disorder 0 40 22 0.6 Steam sauna 5 F 47 Lymphoma 0 10 24 2.4 Steam sauna 6 F 43 Fibromyalgi a 0 32 0 n/a Steam sauna 7 F 48 Depression 0 0 16 n/a Steam sauna 8 F 40 Chronic fatigue 0 0 22 n/a Infrared sauna 9 F 68 Diabetes, fatigue, obesity 0 0 10 n/a Steam sauna 0 8 10 1.3 Exercise 10 32 20 0.6 Exercise 10 M 49 Chronic pain, cognitive decline 11 M 53 Healthy AVOIDING OBESITY RELATED TO BPA IN PLASTIC MATERIALS 16 12 M 23 Healthy 0 30 46 1.5 Infrared sauna 13 M 21 Healthy 30 4 10 2.5 Infrared sauna 14 F 47 Healthy 0 8 12 1.5 Infrared sauna 15 M 53 Healthy 0 4 35 8.8 Infrared sauna 16 F 43 Healthy 0 0 12 n/a Infrared sauna 17 F 51 Healthy 0 0 0 n/a Infrared sauna 18 M 46 Healthy 0 42 0 n/a Infrared sauna 19 M 57 Healthy 0 0 0 n/a Infrared sauna 20 F 50 Healthy 0 8 22 2.8 Infrared sauna All the measurements in the table above are in nanograms per milliliter. AVOIDING OBESITY RELATED TO BPA IN PLASTIC MATERIALS 17 Graphical representation of the findings 100 80 60 BPA in serum 40 BPA in urine 20 BPA in sweat 0 Sweat/urine ratio BPA in serum Measurements are in nanograms per milliliter The way that a few subjects demonstrated imperceptible levels affirms that summed up sullying of these specimens is not likely. Moreover, the levels of BPA were like those as of late distributed in studies of earlier periods and are practically identical to the serum levels discovered (0.79–7.12 ng/mL) in a current review. The relatively flat rate recognition among the serum tests in North America is difficult to look at because there is just a single review in the writing that archives BPA levels in the blood of North Americans. In that report, utilizing the same extraction strategy from the system employed as a part of this review, the creators detailed BPA levels in the scope of http://www.washingtonpost.com/wpdyn/content/article/2009/03/05/AR2009030503285.html AVOIDING OBESITY RELATED TO BPA IN PLASTIC MATERIALS 25 National Toxicology Program. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). (2008, September). NTP-CEHR Monograph on the Potential Human Reproductive and Developmental Effects of Bisphenol A. Retrieved April 3, 2009 from http://cerhr.niehs.nih.gov/chemicals/bisphenol/bisphenol.pdf Newbold RR, Padilla-Banks E, Jefferson WN, Heindel JJ (2008) Effects of endocrine disruptors on obesity. Int J Androl 31: 201–2 Rubin BS, Soto AM (2009) Bisphenol A: Perinatal exposure and body weight. Mol Cell. Endocrinol 304: 55–62S0303-7207(09)00143-9 [pii];10.1016/j.mce.2009.02.023 [doi] [PMC free article] [PubMed Schierow, L., Lister, S.A. (2008, May). Bisphenol A (BPA) in Plastics and Possible Human Health Effects. Congressional Research Service Report for Congress, The Library of Congress Zuckerman, D., Brown, P., Walls, L., & Mazzucco, A. E. (2009). Are Bisphenol A (BPA) plastic products safe for infants and children?. Issue Brief, National Research Center for Women and Families, 2. Judith De la Incera
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