Why are so many New Yorkers ill?
The precautionary principle is a powerful unifying force which has created a new movement that is changing the way health and environmental policy is envisioned in the United States.
In 1998, at the Wingspread Conference in Wisconsin, a gathering of scientists, lawyers, and environmental activists called upon government, corporations, communities, and scientists to implement the precautionary principle when making public health and environmental decisions. The key component of The Wingspread Statement on the Precautionary Principle states: “Where an activity raises threats of harm to the environment or human health, precautionary measures should be taken even if some cause and effect relationships are not fully established scientifically.”
Some types of plastics can leach chemicals into foods and beverages. These chemicals include suspected carcinogens or endocrine disruptions. The endocrine system is a system of glands in all of us, each of which secretes a type of hormone directly into the bloodstream to regulate the body. Hormone disruptors have the ability to mimic, block or otherwise interfere with the signals of naturally-occurring hormones throughout the body. Some research is showing links to some alarming trends, including reduced sperm counts and fertility, and increases in breast, testicular and prostate cancers.
-Endocrine disrupting chemicals may be present in: children’s toys, dental sealants, food cans lined with plastic film or even shower curtains.