Bisphenol A (BPA)

Bisphenol A (BPA) is an industrial chemical widely used in common plastic products, such as baby bottles, children’s toys, and the linings of most food and beverage cans. Many scientific studies including the largest study of BPA ever conducted on humans have found links between

BPA and serious health problems, from heart disease, diabetes and liver abnormalities in adults to developmental problems in the brains and hormonal systems of children.
BPA is widely use in so many products we use every day, so it is probably impossible to completely eliminate your exposure to this potentially harmful chemical. But still, you can lower your exposure and your risk of possible health problems associated with BPA by taking a few simple precautions.

Here are a few tips to help you lower your exposure to BPA:

· Eat Fewer Canned Foods

The easiest way to lower your intake of BPA is to stop eating so many foods that come into contact with the chemical. Eat fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables, which usually have more nutrients and fewer preservatives than canned foods, and taste better, too.

· Choose Cardboard and Glass Containers Over Cans

Highly acidic foods, such as tomato sauce and canned pasta, leach more BPA from the lining of cans, so it’s best to choose brands that come in glass containers. Soups, juices and other foods packaged in cardboard cartons made of layers of aluminum and polyethylene plastic (labeled with a number 2 recycling code) are safer than cans with plastic linings containing BPA.

· Don't Microwave Polycarbonate Plastic Food Containers

Polycarbonate plastic, which is used in packaging for many microwaveable foods, may break down at high temperatures and release BPA. Although manufacturers are not required to say whether a product contains BPA, polycarbonate containers that do are usually marked with a number 7 recycling code on the bottom of the package.

· Choose Plastic or Glass Bottles for Beverages

Canned juice and soda often contain some BPA, especially if they come in cans lined with BPA-laden plastic. Glass or plastic bottles are safer choices. For portable water bottles, stainless steel is best, but most disposable plastic water bottles do not contain BPA. Those that do are usually marked with a number 7 recycling code.

· Turn Down the Heat

For hot foods and liquids, switch to glass or porcelain containers, or stainless steel containers without plastic liners.

· Use Baby Bottles That Are BPA-Free

As a general rule, hard, clear plastic contains BPA while soft or cloudy plastic does not. Most major manufacturers now offer baby bottles made without BPA.

· Practice Moderation

The fewer canned foods and beverages you consume, the less your exposure to BPA, but you don’t have to cut out canned foods altogether to reduce your exposure and lower your potential health risks. In addition to eating less canned food overall, limit your intake of canned foods that are high in BPA.

Greenhouse effect

Do you know what a greenhouse is? Well, a greenhouse, as we all know, is a building made of glass used for growing plants. The roof and walls of the greenhouse are made of glass. I will explain how the greenhouse effect is brought about. Sunlight can easily pass through the transparent roof and walls of the greenhouse. The sunlight then strikes the objects inside the greenhouse. Examples of these objects are plants, flower pots and tables. Now all these objects absorb energy in the form of heat. These objects become warmer and they give off heat. Most of the heat energy is trapped inside the greenhouse. Only a little of the heat energy escapes or passes through the glass. As a result, the temperature inside the greenhouse is raised. This is the reason why we will feel mush warmer inside a greenhouse than outside in the open air. Now, let us turn our attention to the earth. It is also acts like a greenhouse but on a very much larger scale. As the sun shines on the earth, solar energy from the sun passes through the atmosphere that surrounds our planet. The atmosphere is a mixture of gases around the earth. It is like the glass of a greenhouse. After passing through the atmosphere, solar energy strikes the surface of the earth and warms up the oceans, land and all the things on earth. Then, the warmed surface of the earth gives off energy in the form of heat. The heat that is trapped in the atmosphere keeps the earth warm and makes life on the planet possible. The greenhouse effect will leads to the global warming. What is global warming? Global warming is an increase in the temperature throughout the world caused by the heat energy trapped around the earth. When global temperature increases, it will lead to many problems. So, we have to do something to prevent all these from happen. If pollution still continues to affect the environment, then our earth will be threatened. Therefore, we must do our best to prevent pollution and to preserve the environment.