Biology Now, 2e

(Ben Green) #1
Toxic Plastic ■ 115

2014, and 2015. All failed to pass. Another bill was introduced to
the House of Representatives on September 28, 2016.

a. Go to the Embryo Project Encyclopedia (http://embryo.asu.edu),
an NSF-funded online repository of information about embryo
research. Search for the term “BPA” to find the most up-to-date
information on BPA research.

b. Go to the website of the American Chemistry Council (http://
http://www.americanchemistry.com), a trade organization that
advocates for the chemical industry. Search for the term “BPA” to
find its most up-to-date policy statement on the safety of BPA.

c. Draft a letter urging your congressional representative to
support or oppose the most recent BPA bill, explaining why you
believe the weight of scientific evidence makes your position a
prudent response to the situation.

triggered smuggling and black markets, and have a disproportionate


effect on poor people because the wealthy can more easily afford to


pay the higher prices.


What do you think? Should we institute taxes on tobacco?

Would fewer people smoke, or would they smoke less, if tobacco


were more expensive? What about higher health care premiums


for smokers, based on their higher risk for cancer? Would increas-


ing the premiums cause more people to stop smoking? Would you


support such a policy?


(^15) Write Now biology: BPA effects The studies of BPA described
in this chapter used an inbred strain of mice that is known
to be especially susceptible to estrogen and estrogen-like
chemicals, such as BPA. The plastics industry maintains that the
susceptibility of this strain of mice to estrogen renders these
studies invalid as a basis for estimating the effects of BPA on
humans. BPA researchers respond that the current situation,
exposing millions of people to unknown levels of BPA, constitutes
a massive uncontrolled experiment. They maintain that even a
small risk of harm is too great to be allowed when so many people
are exposed. Bills banning the use of BPA in food and beverage
containers were introduced in Congress in 2009, 2011, 2013,
For more, visit digital.wwnorton.com/bionow2 for access to:
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