Scientists warn of dangers in using old plastic bottles with EDC
The most dangerous material in plastic bottles is EDC, or endocrine disrupting chemicals, which can cause reproductive and gonadal disorders, scientists say.
US scientists, in a report released on October 18, said that EDC will affect the development of the body and leave it vulnerable to to dangerous diseases, such as cancer, diabetes, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism.
Vietnamese scientists have also warned about the damaging effects of EDC to people.
According to Nguyen Duy Thinh from the Biotechnology and Food Technology Institute, there are many different kinds of plastic bottles made of different compounds. There are about 25 types of plastics used to make packing and there are different types of bottles for different purposes, including fish sauce, drinks, milk and cosmetics.
Nguyen Chan Hung, former director of the HCMC Tumor Hospital, now chairman of the Vietnam Cancer Association, said the endocrine system exists in all people but distinguishes gender. Women's ovaries produce estrogen.
“Any substance from outside that disrupts endocrine will cause harm to the reproductive and neurological systems and could cause cancer or gonadal diseases,” he said.
It can also have harmful effects on the reproductive and neurological systems.
There are many different substances used in the plastics industry. These include two groups of substances which could be EDC – 1) Phnade (PE) and 2) Bisphenol A (BPA).
PE is used to soften plastics. For example, the transmission tube for drip-feeds used at hospitals was initially hard, but is now thinner and softer and can be used for infants.
When they are in use, the plastic products discharge PE – an EDC.
Meanwhile, BPA is a substance used to make polycarbonate plastic which makes plastics harder.
Similarly, plastics will discharge BPA when they are used. In some European countries and Canada, the substance is prohibited in feeding bottles for children.
BPA substances have been used widely. Beer cans, for example, have a BPA layer which preserves beer more effectively.
Many household products are made of plastics or materials with PE and BPA.
Hung stressed that the danger of the substances had been discussed even before the US scientists released the report. In Europe and the US, movements protesting against the use of BPA and PE have occurred. However, the dispute has ended because of opposition from manufacturers.
The problem is that there is no official research which affirms the damages, so it is impossible to prohibit the use of the substances.
