Chemicals May Play Role in Rise in Obesity
...the suspected link between obesity and exposure to "endocrine
disrupters," as the chemicals are called because of their hormone-like
effects, is "plausible and possible."
Bruce Blumberg, a developmental and cell biologist at the University of
California at Irvine, one of those presenting research at the meeting,
called them "obesogens" -- chemicals that promote obesity.
clip
"Exposure to bisphenol A is continuous," said Frederick vom Saal, professor
of biological sciences at the University of Missouri at Columbia. Bisphenol
A is an ingredient in polycarbonate plastics used in many products,
including refillable water containers and *baby bottles*, and in epoxy
resins that line the inside of food cans and are used as dental sealants. In
2003, U.S. industry consumed about 2 billion pounds of bisphenol A.
Researchers have studied bisphenol A's effects on estrogen function for more
than a decade. Vom Saal's research indicates that developmental exposure to
low doses of bisphenol A activates genetic mechanisms that promote fat-cell
activity. "These in-utero effects are lifetime effects, and they occur at
phenomenally small levels" of exposure, vom Saal said.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/11/AR2007031100
918.html?nav=hcmodule

http://tinyurl.com/2flgnb

Judy Ritchie

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