Bisphenol A exposure in pregnant women

from Wikipedia

You can absorb Bisphenol A by handling thermal receipt paper
[Via Boing Boing]

Two studies (Viable skin efficiently absorbs and metabolizes bisphenol A, J.Chemosphere.2010.09.058; and Variability and Predictors of Urinary Bisphenol A Concentrations during Pregnancy, Environ Health Perspect) have linked handling thermal receipt paper with absorption of Bisphenol A, the seemingly ubiquitous, estrogen-mimicking hormone disruptor. The studies’ authors recommend that pregnant women stay away from thermal receipt paper, and wash their hands after handling it. BPA absorption is also linked to sexual dysfunction in men.

In a second study, carried out by epidemiologists at Harvard University in the US, team leader Joe Braun and colleagues measured BPA levels in urine samples from 389 pregnant women and then correlated the data with the occupation of the women.

The results were that cashiers had the highest concentrations of BPA (2.8 μg/g), while teachers and industrial workers had much lower levels (1.8 and 1.2 respectively). Since cashiers handle far more receipts than the general population, Braun said he was “pretty confident” BPA from the receipts was being absorbed through the skin in those women.

A similar study was also carried out on 400 pregnant women in and around Cincinnati, in the US. Leader of the research team, Frederick von Saal of the University of Missouri-Columbia said the results were unequivocal in showing BPA can go through human skin. Like the French study, the highest levels were found in women who worked as cashiers.

BPA from thermal paper receipts passes through the skin

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The Sustainable Path Foundation, whose board I have sat on since the organization was founded, hosts a seminar series every year. The very first seminar we sponsored discussed the effects of plastic bottles made from BPA. This estrogen-mimic has been shown to be n endocrine disrupter which can produce obesity, diabetes and low sperm production.

Before, we thought we could really only be exposed to BPA from drinking or eating out of certain types of bottles or cans. Looks like there are other possibilities.

Dave Winer is the original Natural Born Blogger

I love reading Paul Krugman’s blog posts
[Via Scripting News]

Krugman is a Natural Born Blogger.

You can tell just from reading his blog. It’s especially important because he’s blogging at nytimes.com. In that sense what he’s doing is very subversive because he’s an expert writing without interpretation by a middleman, a reporter. There’s no one between him, the expert, and me, a person who wants access to his expertise.

He’s a Source that Goes Direct.

I especially go for his angry pieces (like this one). What makes Krugman angry is the same thing that gets me going — ignorance.

Ignorance is the practice of ignoring. To be ignorant is not the same thing as being stupid. Albert Einstein was surely ignorant of some things.

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I sometimes disagree with Dave and I sometimes agree with him. But I always read him. I have ever since I first started reading him and using his software. Because one thing he does is prevent me from ignoring – anything.

In many ways, the world I live in, especially the RSS world of knowledge, is due to Dave’s efforts. And they, along with mine, push against ignorance all the time.

In a time of almost unparalleled access to knowledge it is ironic just how hard that pushing can be.