Posted on 11/02/2024 10:57:23 AM PDT by ConservativeMind
A new study conducted on roundworms finds that a common plastic ingredient causes breaks in DNA strands, resulting in egg cells with the wrong number of chromosomes.
Benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP) is a chemical that makes plastic more flexible and durable, and is found in many consumer products, including food packaging, personal care products and children's toys. Previous studies have shown that BBP interferes with the body's hormones and affects human reproduction and development, but the details of how it impacts reproduction have been unclear.
In the new study, researchers tested a range of doses of BBP on the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans and looked for abnormal changes in egg cells. They saw that at levels similar to those detected in humans, BBP interferes with how newly copied chromosomes are distributed into the sex cells. Specifically, BBP causes oxidative stress and breaks in the DNA strands, which lead to cell death and egg cells with the wrong number of chromosomes.
Based on these findings, the researchers propose that BBP exposure alters gene expression in ways that cause significant damage to the DNA, ultimately leading to lower quality egg cells with abnormal chromosomes. The study also showed that C. elegans metabolizes BBP in the same way as mammals, and is impacted at similar BBP levels that occur in humans, suggesting that C. elegans is an effective model for studying the impacts on people. Overall, the study underscores the toxic nature of this very common plastic ingredient and the damage it causes to animal reproduction.
The authors summarize, "Here, examining the female germline in the nematode C. elegans, this study found that a level of exposure within the range detected in human serum and urine, alters gene expression linking increased germline oxidative stress with compromised genomic integrity and errors in meiotic chromosome segregation."
(Excerpt) Read more at medicalxpress.com ...
If I can’t spell it I don’t need to worry about it, correct?
Note to self: Only purchase certified organic free range roundworm eggs.
Vinyl is bad stuff. Burn it and you get phosgene.
note to self: quit noshing on phthalates for breakfast ...
No... BBP WAS a 'common plastic component', years ago. It's almost completely phased out in the US and EU now, since around 2017. Phase-out started back in 2005.
It was always used at very low levels. Mostly, in PVC flooring but also in some kid's toys. When questions about safety arose, it was phased out of kid's toy's quickly.
It's really hard to find, or measure in the human body because it metabolizes quickly. In the grand scheme of risks in life, this one is VERY low.
Sounds like something for President Trump to put RFKJR in charge of.
The new study is just more "scare news" hype trying to get non-chemists terrified of using any plastics.
The common plastics used in food packaging and consumer products today are mostly polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polycarbonate (PC), and high density polyethylene (HDPE) plastics. These are not dangerous to consumers.
As the title of the PLOS Genetics-published article, "Exposure to benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP) leads to increased double-strand break formation and germline dysfunction in Caenorhabditis elegans," indicates, the study was done on small nematode worms.
Indeed, but there are many variations of Phthalates in use for example Diethyl phthalate, Octyl phthalate.
See more:
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8157593/
Hmm. My leukemia (CML) results from broken/rejoined DNA strands. Might this be the cause? I’ve been told this breaking/rejoining is caused by radiation exposure, and to my knowledge I was never exposed.
That sounds very bad. Is it even possible to avoid BBP? Isn’t that the chemical found all over earth and in the oceans now?
Thank you. I only worked 42 years in the plastics industry.
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