BPA

This chemical can have very dangerous side effects on the human body. In my opinion, the government made the right decision in removing the chemical from the products it is found in. BPA should definitelt not be allowed because it could kill people with the side effects that are present.

If the chemical BPA is consumed it increases the risk of these side effects:
breast cancer 18%, prostate cancer 85%, and impaired fertility 20%.
But there are also many other health problems where the risk is increased because of BPA
(Toxic Platic Chemical Found in Canned Foods, 2006).

Picture links: http://cdn.babble.com/strollerderby/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/bpa.jpg

http://www.greenzer.com/blog/blog_image_store/2010/06/bpa-in-most-canned-foods.jpg

http://www.healthylivingtalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/nalgene_bottles.jpg

Video link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8wXGrzDlcr8

Even with small doses of BPA, it has been proven to cause many dangerous health risks in humans. The following are just a few examples: breast cancer, prostate disease and cancer, obesity, miscarriages, sperm defects, Down's Syndrome, and Turner Syndrome (Elsevier, Reed, 2011).

BPA affects human development and the reproductive system. It also increases the risk of obesity, behavioural problems, early puberty, impaired fertility, and cancer in animals (Oshita, Cynthia, 2008).

Students at Harvard Medical School found that there is an incredible increase in embryonic death in roundworms that were exposed to Bisphenol A (BPA). Ther happened to be a 97% increase in the embryonic death rate. This means the embryo only has a 3% chance of surviving. Also ther was an imense decrease in the number of laid eggs. To be exact, there was a sixfold reduction of the average number of eggs laid (Fang, Janet, 2010).

Although BPA has been banned from Canada since 2008, it still remains in most other countries. It is commonly found in the lining of food packages and beverages, and most hard plastics such as baby bottles and reuseable water bottles (Fang, Janet, 2010).

Physical Properties of BPA:

-lightweight, high-performance plastic
-colourless
-high heat resistance
-excellent electrical resistance
-tough

Chemical Properties of BPA:

-toxic (can kill you in the long run)
-not corrosive
-non-flammable -chemical formaula= C15H1602

Citings:

Elsevier, Reed, 2011
http://www.baumhedlundlaw.com/bpa/bpa_side_effects.php

Fang, Janet, 2010
http://www.smartplanet.com/technology/blog/rethinking-healthcare/bpa-strikes-again-causing-sterility-and-killing-embryos-in-worms/1901/?gclid=CKbeo5qOn6gCFQprKgodgkY6JQ

Fang, Janet, 2010
http://www.smartplanet.com/technology/blog/rethinking-healthcare/bpa-strikes-again-causing-sterility-and-killing-embryos-in-worms/1901/?gclid=CKbep5qOn6gCFQprKgodgkY6JQ

Oshita, Cynthia, 2008
http://www.ewg.org/node/26414

Toxic Plastic Chemical Found in Canned Foods, 2006
http://www.ewg.org/node/20937

A few tips to enhancing your blogs :)

I have just a few reminders for everyone before they submit their final blog posts!

1. Please include only 1 post!  If you have more than one please copy the information into one post and delete the others.

2. Make sure you have named your post in the following format: Chemical Name-Last Name

3. Please make sure to include your reference list in APA format, not just a list of websites.  Remember to   use citationmachine as a reference to help with this.  http://www.citationmachine.net/

SAMPLE REFERENCE LIST:

Brady, J.T. & Brady, P. L. (2003, November). Consumers and genetically
          modified foods. Journal of Family and Consumer Sciences, 95(4),12-18.  Retrieved
          February 25, 2005, from Proquest database
 

Canadian Food Inspection Agency. (2004, April 28). What are genetically modified          foods? Retrieved February 23, 2005, from http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/
          sci/biotech/safsal/gmoogme.shtml

Freckleton, R. P., Sutherland, W.J., & Watkinson, A. R. (2003, November 7). Deciding
          the future of GM crops in Europe.  Science, 302(5647), 994-996. Retrieved February 25,
          2005, from Proquest database.

Genetic engineering. (2002). In The new encyclopaedia Britannica micropaedia (Vol. 5,
          p.178). Chicago: Encyclopaedia Britannica.

Health Canada. (2002, February). The safety of genetically modified food crops.
          Retrieved March 22, 2005, from http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/english/protection/
          biologics_genetics/gen_mod_foods/genmodebk.html

Kneen, B. (1999).  Farmageddon: Food and the culture of biotechnology. Gabriola Isand,
          B. C.: New Society.

4. Please use referencing not only at the bottom of your post, but also throughout.  For example if you have a a few sentences from one source, at the end of the sentences you will include (author, year).  Please use this throughout your blog to show where all the information comes from.  Citation machine can also assist you with what to include in the brackets.

5. Add pictures and colour!



http://supply-chain-data-mgmt.blogspot.com/2010/08/enter-waxman-epa-tsca-toxic-substances.html



6. Make sure to have links to related articles and videoclips.  I have copied instructions below for how to imbed your videoclip rather than just supplying the link.  Please feel free to do this.

• How do I post a video to my blog from YouTube?
• To embed a video from YouTube, just copy the code from the "Embed" box on the video's YouTube page. You can find the "Embed" box in the "About This Video" box when you're watching the video. You can also get the code from the "Embed HTML" box on the "Edit Video" page if the video belongs to your YouTube account.To embed a YouTube video within a blog post, first click "Edit HTML" from within the post editor. Next, paste the video's code into the body of your post. That's it!

Video:

http://www.ehow.co.uk/video_4784676_smoking-cause-stomach-cancer_.html
Picture:
http://www.google.ca/imgres?imgurl=http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0b/Nitrosamine-2D.png/220px-Nitrosamine-2D.png&imgrefurl=http://www.righthealth.com/topic/nitrosamines&usg=__CFKO9QK5qFcSvDQBjfN4UC0IpSk=&h=205&w=220&sz=6&hl=en&start=0&sig2=GivsphyRZ5aXh0q3-xdBrA&zoom=1&tbnid=TFnIYu6M3Ry2qM:&tbnh=138&tbnw=153&ei=pay4TffHK4220QGNpNwC&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dnitrosamines%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26biw%3D1907%26bih%3D857%26tbm%3Disch&um=1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=157&vpy=387&dur=2713&hovh=164&hovw=176&tx=75&ty=89&page=1&ndsp=50&ved=1t:429,r:20,s:0

Nitrosamines

Physical Properties Of Nitrosamines

-crystals or crystalline powder

-white to pale yellow in colour

-sometimes colourless

-miscible with water

Chemical Properties Of Nitrosamines

-can explode if combined with other elements

Remedy

Vitamin C and E additives in food will reduce the risk of nitrosamine formation

How often are nitrosamines in products?
One in every ten products contain ingredients that can combine with others to form nitrosamines. Nitrosamines are produced from nitrites and amines.

Where are nitrosamines found?
Nitrosamines are common in cosmetics, but because they are impurities, they are not listed on product labels. Nearly every kind of personal care product can contain nitrosamines as an impuritiy. Nitrosamines are or can be found in mascara, concealer, conditioner, baby shampoo, pain relief salve, sunless tanning lotion, tobacco smoke, latex products,condoms, beer, party ballons, fish and fish byproducts, and meat and chesse products with nitrite pickling salt.

Health conditions with nitrosamines?

Studies have linked nitrosamines to cancer. They are also linked to development or reproductive toxicity, immunotoxicity, neurotoxicity and system toxicity. Nitrosamines can cause problems in the liver, bladder, and other organs and lead to toxic health effects. Nitrosamines have been banned from use in cosmetics by Canada and the European Union.
We were first made aware of nitrosamines in 1977. Since then the industry has worked to define the problem. A 1998 study by the UK Department of Trade and Industry showed that nitrosamine levels in some products actually increase in the months after a product is opened.

How Are Nitrosamines Formed?

Nitrosamines are carcinogenic chemical compounds of the chemical structure R2N-N=O. Nitrosamines are produced from nitrites and amines. their formation can occur only under certain conditions, including strongly acidic conditions such as that of the human stomach.

the nitrite forms nitrous acid (HN02), which splits into the nitrosyl cation (N=O+) and the hydroxide (OH-) anion. The nitrosyl cation then reacts with an amine to produce nitrosamine.

The cosmetic industry was the first made aware of the presence of nitrosamines in March 1977 with a presentation of a paper on the subject at an American Chemical Society meeting. Since that reported finding of trace levels of N-nitrosodiethanolamines, (NDELA), in commercial cosmetic products, the cosmetic industry has worked to define the problem assess it's magnitude and minimize NDELA in cosmetic products.

A Link To An Article About The Dangers Of Nitrosamines

http://safecosmetics.org/article.php?id=293

In my own opinion the use of these products should be allowed because it is your choice of what you put on your own body,and if u want to take those risks then that is your choice. And as long as it includes nitrosamines on the ingredients package.

WEBSITES USED:

http://safecosmetics.org/article.php?id=293

http://askville.amazon.com.nitrosamines-form-cosmetics.AnswerViewer.do?requestId=166907

Http://www.cosmeticsinfo.org/HBI/17/

http://chemicallypure.com/nitrosamines

Organophosphates - Helm

Organophosphates are made up of many compounds including phosphorus which is commonly used in pesticides. They were discovered during the 19th century, but didn't become recognized as dangerous until this poison was used during World War 2 by the German military as a neurotoxin.


Image: http://political-cleanup.org/pcu_test/images/Organophosphate_svg1.png


Common Uses for Organophosphates:
- insecticides/pesticides in agriculture


Dangers:
- There are chemicals in organophosphates that are used to stop the brain and nerve cells in insects, but these chemicals can impair the brains and nervous systems of humans as well.


Treatment:
- Although there is no definite vaccine for organophosphates, there are several things you can do to protect yourself once you have been poisoned. First thing would be to get out of the infested area, and move to a safer place. Next you should remove contaminated clothes and discard of them immediately, after this you should wash infected areas. If you have ingested this poison, you can go to the hospital and get your stomach pumped, it is also not uncommon for a person to be given activated charcoal to drink.


Since there are many chemicals involved in organophosphates, I chose to narrow my research down to just one, so the physical/chemical properties would be accurate. I chose one of the more common organophosphates, Diazinon.
Physical Properties:
- molecule weight is 304.35
- it can be colourless, to pale yellow, to dark brown
- opaque
- faint "ester" like smell
- boiling point is 83-84 degrees Celcius


Chemical Properties:
- non flammable
- flash point is 82.2 degrees Celcius
- non corrosive


Chemical Formula: C₉H₁₀ClN₂O₅PS


I personally feel that this chemical should not be allowed to be used as a household chemical. Organophosphates are used in 38% of all pesticides in the world, mainly used in agriculture. Many farmers tend to get brain damage from this chemical, and don't even realize it due to the lack of symptoms that occur.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pyn0UZR5V6I


Sources: A Review of the Scientific Literature as it Pertains to Gulf War Illnesses, Volume 8: Pesticides, Gary Cecchine, Beatrice A. Golomb, Lee H. Hilborne, Dalia M. Spektor, C. Ross Anthony, MR-1018/8-OSD, 2000.

Frances M Dyro, MD Chief of the Neuromuscular Section, Associate Professor, Department of Neurology, New York Medical College, Westchester Medical Center Frances M Dyro

Nitrates - Alistair DG

Nitrates can be found in several different types of foods.  Nitrates can be found in cured meats, such as beacon, and hot dogs, and is used to preserve the colour, and make it microbial safe.  It can also be found in Bologna, cured ham, salami, carrots, beets, green beans, spinach, and collard greens.(Answers.com, 


What are some treatments for the damage caused by nitrates?
Since nitrates cause cancer, you would have to do treatment for cancer, in this case, radiation, transplants, and several other bodily implications.


Nitrates are harmful. Nitrates aren't harmful, its what they are converted to is what is harmful.  For adults, the nitrates are converted to nitrites from the saliva, now this is harmful.  If there is to many nitrates being consumed, than you can sometimes get severe headaches or migraines, that can last days at a time.  For young children, the conversion takes place in their intestines.  During pregnancy, if the mother consumes an above-average amount of nitrates, than the chance that the child will develop cancer is greatly increased.  In my opinion, the nitrate levels in foods should be a lot lower than what the standards are currently, as they are so harmful.  Since they occur naturally in several vegetables, I can't see banding it would be a good idea, but to ban hot dogs, that would be the wise choice, but i would not follow through with it.  But some precautions to follow are to watch out for the meats listed above, as not to go over board with them in your diet.

Nitrates (when converted to nitrites) can cause several types of cancer.  The main cancer that is caused by nitrites is Gastric cancer, aka Stomach cancer, which causes 800,000 deaths worldwide, every year. For Gastric cancer, the symptoms start as loss of appetite, indigestion or heart burn, and irritation.  Then after a while the symptoms turn to weakness, fatigue, and bloating of the stomach, usually after meals.  Then the worst symptoms are abdominal pain in the upper abdomen, nausea with occasional vomiting, diarrhea or constipation, weight loss, bleeding in vomiting, and a stomach tumor.  The second type of cancer from nitrites, is Lung cancer, which causes 1.3 million deaths worldwide, every year.  Overall, the chances that a person would live for 5 years, once he has been diagnosed, is 14 % !!!  The symptoms are shortness of breath, coughing up blood, change in regular cough pattern, wheezing, chest pain, weight loss, hoarse voice, difficulty swallowing, and rarely, clubbing of the fingernails.  What the cause for all of the internal symptoms, are from (a) tumor(s).  All in all, both of these deaths is not the way to go.  And the last cancer I know of that can also be caused by nitrates is Pancreatic cancer, which can be caused from a high diet of red meats, a lack of vegetable in the diet, and smoking.  Males have a 30 percent higher chance of getting the cancer than females.  The symptoms are pain in the abdomen, loss of appetite, and loss of weight.

Chemical formula: NO3

Chemical Properties of Nitrates:

Odorless 

Colorless

Tasteless

Physical Properties of Nitrates:

Varies from fine crystal powder, to fine hexagon powder

White if in powder form

Density to Sodium Nitrate: 2.257g/cm3

Density to Potassium Nitrate: 2.109g/cm3

Density to Ammonium Nitrate: 1700 kg/m3

http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQmG-b6JJdgvjy-prYVkVHmEVgcREXNIW2OYh8uA7GCUlL18LWowI-Tq7E

A NITRATE MOLECULE (up) Dangerous!!!

http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRYFKa1B3ixD3bSG_pqpFB6_tq8Sv0malRoPQ2fcXWWfGcRT7Wdzz-G0HXSqA

        /\---  THIS IS A BEGINNING GASTRIC CANCER THAT COULD HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY NITRITES.

THIS IS A PICTURE OF LUNG CANCER THAT 

http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTKZ_RxSlYIh1YK59j28Z87-N9Fl9n0BJqJOS-3GsSuGUKNLMzAgfyZfX3g

COULD HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY NITRITES. -->

http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSJxl2SJ3Bp_5RBaEzw6-aJ7Jmzac5gKmp3TAlFhf6KuHxbOGGbwzXu2qOz

                         ^

                         ^

A Pancreatic cancer symptom of Abdominal Pain.

Sources: Gastric cancer image : Imaging of various gastric lesions with 2d MPR and ct Gastrography performed with multidetector ct. (2006). North America: RadioGraphics.

Information on nitrates :  RosieC, Initials. (2009). What foods/drinks contain nitrates?!!?. United States: Yahoo.

Lung cancer image : Lung cancer tumors. United States: Ecognitive.com.

More information on nitrates : Nitrates. (2011). United States: Wikipedia.


Pancreatic Cancer image: Pancreatic cancers indicators in addition to examination. United States: My healthy lifestyle.

Stick image of a Nitrate molecule: David Burger, Initials. (2008). Nitrates. United States: Science on the farm.

Nitrosamines

Remedy:


Vitamin C and E additives in food will reduce the risk of Nitrosamine formation.





Nitrosamines. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.cosmeticsinfo.org/HBI/17/





What Are Nitrosamines?


A Nitrosamine is an organic substance that is formed by a specific reaction of two nitrogens containing substances one of which is an amine. The second nitrogen containing material that is called a nitrosating agent such as nitrates used as food preservatives.





Where is it found?. (Updated: February 8th, 2010, Febuary 8). Retrieved from http://chemicallypure.com/nitrosamines





How Can Nitrosamines Be Formed?


Nitrosamines may be formed in cosmetic and personal care products only if they contain an ingredient which acts as a Nitrosating agent and an amine, and they are together under conditions that favour Nitrosamine formation. The Nitrosation may happen during manufacture or during product storage.





Information On Nitrosamines


Many ingredients used in the formation of Cosmetic and Personal care products contain nitrogen and this there is a potential to form Nitrosamines. As previously stated the potential for nitrosamine formation is structurally related with secondary amines having the most potential to form nitrosamines.


Nitrosamines are the reaction products