Many household products/items contain chemicals likely to find their way into cells. According to Science Daily (April 3, 2008) Bisphenol A is one of such chemicals. This chemical is said to leach into food and beverage from a variety of consumer products. If it does so it is said to cause normal, non-cancerous human breast cells to express genes characteristic of destructive breast cancer cells (AScribe Medicine News Service, 2008).
Bisphenol A (BPA) is commonly found in majority of plastic water bottles, baby feeding bottles, in food can linings, in addition to teeth protection sealants used by dentists (George & Jonathan, 2006). BPA is widespread compound with a divisive reputation and behaves like estrogen with carcinogenic effects including enhancing breast and prostate cancer risk. As per 2004 research by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, about 95 people out of 100 have traces of BPA in their urine. Moreover, out of this number women are portrayed to have an enhanced blood concentration of BPA as opposed to men, with children exhibiting higher concentrations than adults (AScribe Medicine News Service, 2008).
Another research by the U.S Environmental Protection Agency carried out in 2007 showed high levels of flame retardant chemicals in the blood of house cats. Such chemicals are associated with interference in thyroid production. These findings led Washington environmental group to launch a study involving pet dogs and cats. The study found that chemicals found in plastic additives, food packaging, heavy metals, fire retardants and stain resistors to be present within these animals (AScribe Medicine News Service, 2008). This lead to the conclusion that some chemicals found in household items are likely to be found in human cells.
It is important to note that these chemicals found in the packaging surfaces or contents of household products can cause long terms health problems such as cancers of the breast, brain and testicles, lowered sperm counts, early puberty as well as other reproductive system defects; diabetes, attention deficit disorder, asthma in addition to autism (George & Jonathan, 2006).
Reference
Common Organic Compound Found in Many Household Products May Pose Health Risk to Breast Cells; Bisphenol A Could Increase Risk of Breast Cancer. AScribe Medicine News Service.
George Johnson & Jonathan Losos, (2006) Essentials of the Living World. 2nd Edition. McGraw-Hill Publishing Company.