Toxic Plastic--What A Gas!

[WingedWolfPsion]

Testing on rats is still being conducted--of course these chemicals have not yet been tested on reptiles to see what effects they're having.

However, if we extrapolate from rat studies, we would expect to see feminized males and increased birth defects. We do see those in ball python clutches--but we began breeding these animals in captivity after these plastics began to be used, so we have no 'clean' examples to study. Are these cases due to the plastics we use? If the rat studies can be extrapolated, then it would seem logical that at least some of them are.

Endocrine disruption isn't a fantasy. These chemicals have very real effects on fetal development. These effects aren't questionable at all--the argument has been made that just because they effect rats doesn't mean they'll effect other animals. While a valid complaint in a minor way, we can already see evidence of endocrine disruption occurring in other species, including ours, so it would seem more logical to error on the side of caution while we wait for that confirmation.

Since you didn't like the OP's supporting links, I provided more legitimate ones. They say the same thing.

Here's more scientific information on BPA:
http://www.endocrinedisruption.com/e...ol.summary.php

It's important to understand that these chemicals feminize males and can even masculinize females. So, are they responsible for 'lazy males'? I'm sure other things could cause that as well...but these chemicals most certainly can. I guess I'm missing how this is a 'reach'.

Human fertility is also being affected noticeably. While humans have always been a pretty fecund species, one must admit that a decline in humans' actual ABILITY to reproduce isn't something to be dismissed lightly.
http://humrep.oxfordjournals.org/cgi...ract/17/6/1437

It's also making our kids obese--I know, it's a shock that it's not the candy, but kids used to eat candy before we had plastics, too.
http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/20...s-in-plastics/

If it affects rats and humans, why not ball pythons? Alligators have responded to different endocrine disruptors--most famously, in Lake Apopka. Judging by alligator reactions, reptiles can be expected to show the same signs that mammals do when exposed to low levels of endocrine disrupting chemicals of other types.

I'm not saying we should stop using these PVC racks--perhaps the convenience, the ease of keeping things sanitary, and the light weight all contribute to making it worth the problems they may cause--and as I said, it's not as though we can provide them with an environment that's free of endocrine disrupting chemicals anyhow. We can't...not anymore. So we might as well make the best of it.