health
See No Evil: The Ignorance That Allows Harmful Chemicals To Be Licensed as Safe Needs To End
It’s not just enough to get rid of harmful chemicals in the food supply or environment. The whole system of regulation, and the arrogant corporate-serving attitude that underlies it, must be overturned
TL;DR
- Polylactic acid (PLA), a biodegradable plastic, breaks down into oligomeric lactic acid (OLA).
- New research indicates OLA can penetrate the placenta in pregnant mice, affecting fetal growth and birth weight.
- Reduced birth weight in humans is linked to increased risks of stillbirth and lifelong health problems.
- The study calls for a re-evaluation of the safety of biodegradable plastics.
- The article criticizes the 'safe until proven otherwise' approach to regulating new chemicals and products, citing conflicts of interest and inadequate testing.
- Fundamental reform of regulatory bodies like the FDA and EPA is suggested.
- The 'Generally Recognized as Safe' (GRAS) loophole in food additive regulation is highlighted as a concern.