Thursday, July 7, 2011

Scientists in northern India reiterate chemicals present in plastics pose threat to public health

Scientists in northern India reiterate chemicals present in plastics pose threat to public health
                                                                                                    By Girish Kumar Dubey
Research scholars at Banaras Hindu University (BHU) in Varanasi, the temple city in India's northern state of Uttar Pradesh confirm that bisphenol A, an organic compound present in plastic materials poses serious threat to public health.

Surya Pratap Singh, Associate Professor, Department of Biochemistry at BHU disclosed this to the mediapersons on Friday (July 01).

He said that the chemical bisphenol A after entering the human body causes harm in a multiple ways.

"Our research is mainly on two things. The first one is on endocrine disruptor. There are certain chemicals present in the environment, comes from different means like plastics and pesticides and after entering into our body, they disrupt the endocrine system. So, these chemicals are called endocrine disruptors," said Surya Pratap Singh.

Bisphenol A (BPA) is an endocrine disruptor, which can replicate the body's own hormones and causes adverse effects on health.

The National Toxicology Programme (NTP), which is a part of National Institutes of Health in United States of America, has also disclosed that BPA is harmful for the development of children's brain and reproductive organs.

"Bisphenol A, an organic compound was discovered in London, where boiled milk was given to the babies in plastic bottles. When the milk sample was observed, it was found that it contained bisphenol A. It caused a great harm to the health of young babies especially the nascent ones. So, the plastic bottle was banned there and that's how this issue has become a matter of concern," added Surya Pratap Singh.

A recent study conducted in the US this year has discovered that 96 percent of the pregnant women had BPA in their body.

BPA causes certain neurological problems in human body. It disrupts thyroid functioning in the human body and poses a threat to cancer.

Plastic is a by-product of petroleum elements and compounds. This brings a lot of problems like destruction of habitat, extraction of crude oil, security issues from the volatile countries where oil is produced, processing of petroleum, chemical manipulation into various types of plastics.

Many chemicals get involved during manufacturing of plastics, a many of which have not been sufficiently tested for their toxicological impact on human body and animals as well.

Plastic often percolate component chemicals, including hazardous chemicals, through common temperature changes.

It is for this reason that toxicologists do not recommend storing very cold foods in plastics or heating foods (micro waving especially) in plastics.

Plastics are durable materials, which are hard to eliminate or recycle once used and generate ample amount of toxic waste.

They take up a lot of space in landfills and create air pollution when incinerated.


Intro

Research scholars at Banaras Hindu University in Varanasi, the temple city in India's northern state of Uttar Pradesh say that bisphenol A, an organic compound present in plastic materials poses serious threat to humans body.

PLEASE NOTE: THIS EDIT CONTAINS CONVERTED 4:3 MATERIAL

Shotlist

VARANASI, UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA (JULY 01, 2011) (ANI-NO ACCESS BBC)

1. EXTERIOR OF BIOCHEMISTRY DEPARTMENT, BANARAS HINDU UNIVERSITY (BHU), VARANASI

2. A SIGNBOARD READING 'DEPARTMENT OF BIOCHEMISTRY'

3. ENTRANCE OF THE LABORATORY

4. SURYA PRATAP SINGH, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR, DEPARTMENT OF BIOCHEMISTRY, BHU, VARANASI, WORKING IN THE LABORATORY

5. SURYA PRATAP SINGH HOLDING A SYRINGE

6. TWO WHITE MICE SITTING IN A CAGE

7. A MOUSE BEING INJECTED

8. SURYA PRATAP SINGH CARRYING A MOUSE

9. SURYA PRATAP SINGH INJECTING ANOTHER MOUSE

10. SURYA PRATAP SINGH STANDING

11. MICE SITTING IN A CAGE

12. (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) SURYA PRATAP SINGH, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR, DEPARTMENT OF BIOCHEMISTRY, BHU, VARANASI, SAYING:

"Our research is mainly on two things. The first one is on endocrine disruptor. There are certain chemicals present in the environment, comes from different means like plastics and pesticides and after entering into our body, they disrupt the endocrine system. So, these chemicals are called endocrine disruptors."

13. TEA BEING POURED IN PLASTIC CUPS

14. BOYS HOLDING THE CUPS

15. BOYS CONSUMING TEA

16. A CUP OF TEA

17. (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) SURYA PRATAP SINGH, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR, DEPARTMENT OF BIOCHEMISTRY, BHU, VARANASI, SAYING:

"Bisphenol A, an organic compound was discovered in London, where boiled milk was given to the babies in plastic bottles. When the milk sample was observed, it was found that it contained bisphenol A. It caused a great harm to the health of young babies especially the nascent ones. So, the plastic bottle was banned there and that's how this issue has become a matter of concern."

18. A DIAGRAM SHOWCASING SPERMATOGENESIS (PROCESS BY WHICH MALE PRIMARY GERM CELLS UNDERGO DIVISION)

19. MICE INSIDE A CAGE

20. SINGH STANDING IN A LABORATORY

Original Script Date
Jul 02 10:33 (5 days ago)
Modified Script Date
Jul 02 10:33 (5 days ago)
Script Version
1
Headline
Scientists in northern India reiterate chemicals present in plastics pose threat to public health.
Services
Subcon Extra
Locations
VARANASI, UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA
Dates Shot
JULY 01, 2011
Sound
NATURAL WITH HINDI SPEECH
Duration
2:21

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