Toxic Garbage Island and BPA

Somewhere north of the Pacific Ocean, 7 days sailing from the nearest landmass lies the "North Pacific Gyre", a vortex created by little wind strong high pressure systems. Trapped in the gyre is a toxic garbage island about twice the size of Texas. It is not an island garbage dump floating in the sea but a gargantuan messy soup of plastic bits and pieces accumulated from years and years dumping of plastic waste: bags, bottles, containers, stryrofoam, ship garbage, etc.

The world produces 7 million tons of plastics a day. Roughly 100 billion polyethelene plastic bags are produced in a year in North American alone. About 46,000 pieces cover a square mile.

Plastics are non-biodegradeable, however, it does go through photodegradation meaning it breaks down into smaller and smaller parts but it's still all plastic. Plastics contain chemicals believed to be potentially toxic, particularly bisphenol-A (BPA). BPA is the building block of polycarbonate plastics. Some Type 3 and Type 7 (seen as a number and arrows symbol on plastic containers) may leach BPA. BPA can contaminate the environment either directly or through degradation of products containing BPA, such as ocean-borne plastic trash.

When plastic is broken up into tiny particles, it also acts like a sponge for other toxic pollutants in land and water. Red and orange plastic particles are favored and ingested by most marine animals because they look like shrimp or plankton. Humans receive BPA thru plastic lining of cans and plastic bottles. Scientists contend that BPA is in our diet and there is low-level but regular low-level exposure.

Recent studies indicate BPA links to genetic, reproductive diseases and cancer. More studies and contentious debate is ongoing. Chemical industry experts say that until BPA is proved to have ill effects it should continue to be manufactured and used, because it is economical, strong and offers unique features.

If you are concerned, what can you do ?

• Don’t microwave polycarbonate plastic food containers. Polycarbonate is strong and durable, but over time it may break down from over use at high temperatures.

• Polycarbonate containers that contain BPA usually have a #7 on the bottom. Type 2 or Type 5 are recommended.

• Reduce your use of canned foods.

• When possible, opt for glass, porcelain or stainless steel containers, particularly for hot food or liquids.

• Use drinking bottles or baby bottles that are BPA free.

• Recycle and don't reuse
  

Click this to see a graphic of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch


Sources:
www.wikipedia.com
www.vbs.tv Episode: "Toxic Garbage Island"
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=plastic-not-fantastic-with-bisphenol-a
http://www.medicinenet.com/plastic/article.htm
http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/media/questions/sya-bpa.cfm
http://www.recyclenow.org/r_plastics.html