Hormones and Chemicals in Food Production

Hormones and Chemicals in Food Production: Additives to our Energy Source and Their Effects

Chemical Composition of Bisphenol A

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Chemicals that are used as fertilizers, used to prolong food shelf life, and used to package our food have been around for awhile. The first chemical fertilizer was created in "1908 by German chemist Fritz Haber" which now the creation of such fertilizers is now called "the Haber Process". (Cornell, 2010) Since then the production of fertilizer has grown immensely and has become a corporate industry. This is present to our friends to the north where, "nine companies make and market almost all of the insecticides, fungicides, and herbicides used in Canada". (Qualman, 2001) However, it is not just the fertilizer that is corporately owned but also the seed production industries with, "Four companies (DuPont/Pioneer, Monsanto, NMovartis, and Dow) control 69% of the North American seed corn market and 47% of the soybean seed market" as of 2001. (Qualman, 2001) With such a powerful grip on the market, the production of their products can be done without massive regulations because their money can buy their way through the hoops and ladders of politics and ethics.

One of the chemicals that passes these boundaries is Bisphenol A, or BPA, which has been in commercial use since 1957 "commonly (as) plastic food and beverage containers and in the coating of food cans". (Dunham, 2008) BPA is not a friendly chemical to the sexual production, with multiple reports finding effects to male reproductive system. According to a study done in China, men who worked in BPA producing facilities, "had quadruple the risk of erectile dysfunction, and seven times more risk of ejaculation difficulty". (Dunham, 2008) Beyond the functional reasons, developmental reasons also occur. Some of these were found by Hiroshi Iida and his study team in 2003 when they tested BPA's effects on Sertoli Cells, which main purpose is to nourish developing sperm cells. They concluded "exposure to BPA revealed morphological changes, such as membrane blebs, cell rounding, cytoskeletal collapse, and chromatin condensation or fragmentation" (Iida et. al, 2003). This essentially means that during the growth of the sperm cell that the cell would be weaker than normal, abnormal in shape, and the chromosome of the sperm would not develop correctly. Also, "problems with the Steroli cells can lead to cryptorchidism, in which the testicles fail to descend". (Langston, 2010) These effects however have are not specific to males. Studies are expanding to female reproductive systems as well with the FDA releasing a statement pronouncing concern for "the potential effects of BPA in the brain, behavior and prostate gland of fetuses, infants, and young children". (Dunham, 2008) While all these studies are not all focused on fetal development, the effects are now being acknowledged in the early stages of child development. On top of that, a study done on mice found that female mice injected with small doses of BPA "made adult female mice more timid and unwilling to explore, a typically masculine behavior for mice. In addition to masculinizing female mouse behavior, the chemical also changed female mouse brain structure, reducing the size of a part of the brain that is usually larger in females". (Langston, 2010) As far as I have found these results have not been significant in humans, but the possibility is still frightening.

Recently, however, many companies like Nalgene have been producing products like my water bottle that are BPA free. Even with this being said Steven Silverman general manager of Nalgene in a statement said, "Based on all available scientific evidence, we continue to believe that Nalgene products containing BPA are safe for their intended use. However, our customers indicated they preferred BPA- free alternatives, and we acted in response to those concerns". (Austen, 2008) With this being said Nalgene still creates products that contain BPA, they are just bought less frequently than the BPA free options. Regardless, many companies are starting to produce products that are BPA free. These companies include Brita, SC Johnson, and in some but not all Rubbermaid products. Having these options available is becoming a trend in United States society, which is a positive turn away from chemical additives used in food production and distribution. Online stores such as Ebay and Amazon have jumped on the BPA free train as well with products becoming available on their sites. In fact Amazon has a section that is specifically dedicated to BPA free water bottles, baby bottles, and sippy cups. (Payne, 2008) These forward movements, however small, are the start the United States needs to create awareness about the issues that can occur from the types of chemicals used in our food industry. With acknowledgments about BPA being present in the news other chemicals like DES which falls under the same category of BPA of endocrine disruptor. With these two chemicals under fire citizens of the United States want to know they are safe consuming the food they purchase and not have to worry about any sexual defects that might occur in the parents, in the fetus during pregnancy, or even in a child during early development. As Langston from Toxic Bodies details, "A healthy Pregnancy does not exist in static, disconnected space; rather, it is a complex set of systems, forged by connections between the mother and developing fetus, between genes and hormones, between past generations and future generations". (Langston, 2008) Such a statement reveals the delicacy of pregnancy and from now into the future should be understood as such. With such a delicate process, knowledge of these chemicals should be continued to be a focus for environmental, biological, and social change.

Austen, Ian. "Bottle Maker to Stop Using Plastic Linked to Health Concerns."The New York Times. The New York Times, 17 Apr. 2008. 

Cornell, Joseph D. "Fertilizer." The Encyclopedia of Earth. Ed. Michelle Miller. N.p., 24 July 2010. Web.

Dunham, Will. "Plastics Chemical BPA Linked to Health Problems!" Plastics Chemical BPA Linked to Health Problems! N.p., 16 Sept. 2008. Web.

Iida, Hiroshi, et al. "Bisphenol A-Induced Apoptosis of Cultured Rat Sertoli Cells." Reproductive Toxicology 17.4 (2003): 457-64. Print.

Langston, Nancy. Toxic Bodies: Hormone Disruptors and the Legacy of DES. Cumberland: Yale UP, 2010. Print.

Payne, January W. "Where to Find BPA-Free Products." US News. U.S.News & World Report, 2 May 2008. Web.

Qualman, D., & Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives. (2001). The farm crisis and corporate power. Ottawa: Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives