Mission: The Valley Women’s Club is dedicated to community action, awareness and leadership in environmental, educational, social, and political concerns that affect the health and welfare of the San Lorenzo Valley and our community.
Mission: The Valley Women’s Club is dedicated to community action, awareness and leadership in environmental, educational, social, and political concerns that affect the health and welfare of the San Lorenzo Valley and our community.
Health & SafetyWinter 2008–2009 Soda Warning As reported in Science Daily, researchers have found new evidence that soft drinks sweetened with high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) may contribute to the development of diabetes, particularly in children. In a laboratory study of commonly consumed carbonated beverages, the scientists found that drinks containing the syrup had high levels of reactive compounds that have been shown by others to have the potential to trigger cell and tissue damage that could cause the disease, which is at epidemic levels. Between the cans being lined with BPA producing plastic, and the health damage of sugars in general and high-fructose corn syrup specifically, soft drinks are no longer a beverage choice worth choosing. It’s Everywhere! The global chemical industry produces about 6 billion pounds of BPA annually, generating at least $6 billion in annual sales. The value of BPA-based manufactured goods, from cell phones and computers to epoxy coatings and dental bindings, is probably incalculable. Though scientists have known since the 1930s that BPA mimics estrogen in the body, for unrelated reasons, the chemical serves as an essential building block of hard, clear polycarbonate plastics and tough epoxy resins, ubiquitous materials in the modern world. “It’s probably the largest volume endocrine-disrupting chemical in commerce,” says Vom Saal. “This stuff is in everything.” Because plastics made with BPA break down easily when heated, microwaved, washed with strong detergents or wrapped around acidic foods like tomatoes, trace amounts of the potent hormone leach into food from epoxy lacquer can linings, polycarbonate bottles and other plastic food packaging. Environmental Working Group http://www.ewg.org studies have found BPA in more than half the canned foods and beverages sampled from supermarkets across the U.S., in baby bottles, in the linings of aluminum cans, and more. Their website is worth some time spent if you want to avoid these contaminants as much as possible. Not in the Trash! Old Medication & Sharps Until recently, common usage was to flush old medication (OTC or prescription) down the toilet, or put it into the trash. This has proven to contaminate waterways and water resources, so we are grateful that public pressure (including the Environmental Committee’s) has led to alternatives. Now, you can bring your old medication to the Boulder Creek and Felton pharmacies, as well as to the Household Hazardous Waste at the Ben Lomond Transfer Station. Sharps can also be brought to the pharmacies, but must be in the red sharps containers (available at the pharmacies). HHW will take sharps as well.
Home | Back To Top |
|||
|
