3.2 Vulnerable Populations

We can not only focus on sedentary lifestyles and diets anymore when talking about the obesity epidemic. After learning further about the lack of chemical regulation and the new knowledge about chemicals and BPA exposures, we must demand policies be put in place immediately that protect us and make companies prove they are safe before they are sold anywhere in the U.S. Enough is enough. Our health, the health of our children, and even the health of the government officials' children are at risk without appropriate regulations.

I remember listening to Dr. Rishi Munchanda's presentation on NPR last year. He makes important points about not just treating the symptoms of a disease but looking at ways to decrease exposures to chemicals that contribute to diseases like migrane headaches and asthma. Health truly does begin where you live, work, and play. As the women in his story shed light on her living conditions, more began to be unraveled about the contributing factors of her ailment and her son's asthma. Her home was infested with mold, leaks, and roaches, her immediate home environment was the cause of her chronic allergies and headaches and were reduced y 90% after addressing her home concerns. Treating the allergies was not solely done with medication but with the help of a community health worker who made recommendations about how to improve her living conditions. This presentation shows us that public health concerns can not and will not be addressed only in the medical setting or only in the public health setting. Both public health and medical practitioners must work collaboratively to solve problems and advocate for policies that reduce exposures and improve the health of the community.

After watching the Reproductive Health and Environment video, reading the BPA articles and researching meat alternatives and tofu products I use on the EWG database I was shocked, dumbfounded, disillusioned and disappointed even more than I initially was when I first learned that many chemicals and products are unregulated by our federal government. I had no idea that 90% of our food that we buy is where we get the greatest BPA exposure from! 90% I looked at meat alternatives like tofu, Fieldroast sausages and Gardein chikin tenders only to learn that my least favorite meat substitute tofu is the safest to eat with a score of 1. While the Fieldroast sausages and Gardein chicken tenders are both a 4.5 making them moderately hazardous due to the manufacturing packaging practices by the companies. Food companies seemed like they put little to no effort to inform the consumers about the safety of the food and the food process. They include incomplete, inconsistent, disorganized information, on their sites and leave it to the consumer to jumble through that mess (Amarelo, 2016).

It is imperative that doctors, environmental scientist, public health professionals and the public work together to raise awareness, protest, and advocate for safer policies that put the consumer first and the companies last. How can it be possible that the European Union has policies in place for companies to prove their safety before going to market and the United States of America does not? Without these policies in place to protect us, we are left exposed to chemicals, toxic products, BPA filled food packaging. With exposures occurring at different times in our life, we are exposed from fetal development to death. There must be a shift in the burden of proof to companies. The fact that BPA is an estrogen mimicking hormone and has been linked to cause reproductive problems and cancer should be proof enough that food packaging cannot go unregulated. I know about the meat and dairy industries' practices which is why I am happy I have a plant based diet. However, I thought I was making a good choice choosing meat alternatives only to find out I have to worry about the packaging too!