Re:The Disappearing Male [video]
by pg on Monday November 24, 2008 @02:23PM
(#375209)
Sounds like the probem is stuff made out of plastic. Is that a reasonable summary?
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From what I could tell in the video, bisphenol a's a petroleum derivative that is used to harden polycarbonates. The other one, pthalates (also a petroleum derivative) is used to soften PVC. So technically, not made out of plastic, but used to make plastic.
Edit: Realized I misread your comment. Yes, the problem is with some plastic products, which use these chemicals (but not all, since the video mentioned that one hospital using safe plastic products).
I have the impression it's some plastics but not all. A rule of thumb many people up here use is to avoid plastics with recycling number 6 (polystyrene) or 7 (polycarbonate). These are said to be the worst.
Alex, does the film contain specific recommendations to consumers? (Normally I hate using the word "consumer" to mean "citizen" but in this case it could hardly be more accurate.)
I didn't watch the last few min of the film, but here is a good list of things to avoid:
http://www.sailhome.org/Concerns/BodyBurden/Burdens/Phthalat...
Realistically it will be impossible to completely avoid the stuff until it's made illegal.
Given that the list includes water, I'd have to agree!