Do all common polymers have estrogenic activity?

M

MIREGMGR

#1
A research paper in Environmental Health Perspectives, a peer-reviewed journal published by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, indicates from a study of most of the commonly used polymeric materials that nearly all showed estrogenic activity (EA) in as-fabricated form.

I don't have a link to the paper itself, but http://%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3Ehttp://www.plasticstoday.com/articles/study-says-bpa-free-plastics-still-show-estrogenic-activity-03042here's a link to a related news story.

EA is a substance characteristic that is known to be a promoter and perhaps also an initiator for estrogen-responding cancers, including breast cancer and others, affecting both men and women. EA also is implicated in various adverse developmental effects in utero, in progressively declining sperm counts and quality, and in various effects in other species including harmful mutations and decreased reproduction in fish, frogs and birds.

Prior studies have shown that many such polymers in pure resin form do not have EA. Apparently EA arises from thermal processing, material reactions, or post-fabrication stresses such as microwaving, UV exposure, etc.

BPA, a substance used in production of some polycarbonates and epoxies, is now widely recognized by consumers as having EA. Its use in body and food contact applications, especially for children and pregnant women, is quickly decreasing due to customer preference.

What will be the strategic impact on the medical device field if consumers and regulators follow the same course with other polymers that has been the case with BPA? Does your company have a no-plastics strategic plan?
 
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Ronen E

Problem Solver
Staff member
Moderator
#2
BPA, a substance used in production of some polycarbonates and epoxies,...
BPA is a reagent in all PC syntheses (as well as other types of polymers).

BPA, ..., is now widely recognized by consumers as having EA.
Consumers perception aside, was this scientifically shown? Do you have a reliable reference?

Its use in body and food contact applications, especially for children and pregnant women, is quickly decreasing due to customer preference.
...and due to a massive media campaign, which I think (though I can't prove it) was aided by commercially interested parties.
 
M

MIREGMGR

#3
Consumers perception aside, was this scientifically shown? Do you have a reliable reference?
You've misunderstood the point of my post, which had to do with the strategic impact of customer and regulator beliefs and consequent actions and choices.

It's not particularly relevant to that point why the public discussion of such matters moves where it does, or which view of the facts you or I or our respective companies hold, unless you or I have the communications-capability and opinion-shaping power to change that public discussion substantively.

I don't have that capability and power, and therefore I'm very interested in predicting if I can where that public discussion may head.

It's very clear from market statistics that polycarbonates are much less buyer-acceptable in certain kinds of medical devices than they were say ten years ago. My post had to do with looking forward ten years, and being prepared.
 

Ronen E

Problem Solver
Staff member
Moderator
#4
You've misunderstood the point of my post, which had to do with the strategic impact of customer and regulator beliefs and consequent actions and choices.

It's not particularly relevant to that point why the public discussion of such matters moves where it does, or which view of the facts you or I or our respective companies hold, unless you or I have the communications-capability and opinion-shaping power to change that public discussion substantively.

I don't have that capability and power, and therefore I'm very interested in predicting if I can where that public discussion may head.

It's very clear from market statistics that polycarbonates are much less buyer-acceptable in certain kinds of medical devices than they were say ten years ago. My post had to do with looking forward ten years, and being prepared.
Hi there,

Thanks for this excellent response. I did understand your main point and I think you raised valid questions.

My response related mostly to your comments on BPA (though it wasn't the main topic of your post) out of 3 reasons:

1. Curiosity - you presented an aspect which (if true) I wasn't particularly aware of, and therefore I hoped to learn more;

2. I felt that the way you presented the BPA issue in general was a bit misleading (it so happens that polymers are in my core expertise and I have a lot of experience with PC in medical devices) and so I wanted to balance a bit.

3. [this is not related to you or to this specific thread] I am still outraged by how easy it is to manipulate the masses with pseudo-scientific arguments that are actually pretty loosely grounded in reality, if not completely wrong. I know that the world is what it is ("money is power" etc. etc.), and you and I can't do much about it, but it still annoys me every time I see it.

***

Your comment on medical PC usage 10 years ago and today is very interesting. Once again, do you have a reference to that? I had the opposite notion, but I admit I never really researched large-scale trends in medical PC consumption.

***

To answer your general question, I think plastics are here to stay (medical devices) big time. Maybe in particular applications the risks are/will be such that tailored non-plastic alternatives will eventually take the lead, but in general, the diversity and flexibility of plastics can't be substituted across the board, and the REAL risks are such that can be contained and mitigated in other ways. Of course contingencies are always a good thing to have, but as always with risk management it is a matter of resources vs. residual risk.

Cheers,
Ronen.
 

Michael Malis

Quite Involved in Discussions
#6
Thanks for the article.

Great point about all plastics, formulated and not formulated with this stuff...
My information from 4 years ago about EU regulation and MDD at that time questioned the benefit and specific medical devices that should cover by this requirement. Does it matter if the product intentionality formulated with this or can be by-product of the process? Is "...free" claim really free of the chemical specifically for labeling and kids protection? And what is the bottom line?

What I learned that for general public you need to eat this stuff by ton to be affected...Yes it would be interesting to know what will change in 10 years...
 
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