17 Sep 2008
09:12 pm IST

"Less plastics", "Say no to plastics", "Zero plastics", "No plastics, please" - endless list of campaigns have been seen from NGOs crying to reduce use of harmful plastics in daily use. Thus far, we knew plastics were harmful for the environment. Now we know, for the first, for sure that bisphenol A, or BPA, a common chemical used in plastic drink cups and baby bottles is linked to heart disease and diabetes.

British researchers analyzed urine and blood samples from 1,455 U.S. adults. They found that 25 percent of people with the highest levels of bisphenol A in their bodies were more than twice as likely to have heart disease and, or diabetes compared to the 25 percent with the lowest levels.

People can consume BPA when it leaches out of plastic into liquid such as baby formula, water or food inside a container.

Animal studies have suggested the chemical may disrupt hormones, especially estrogen.

Isn't time to innovate on new materials and packaging?

--
Be the change,
Krish Murali Eswar

"A small body of determined spirits fired by an unquenchable faith in their mission can alter the course of history. Gandhiji."