Miss Zomboko
JF-Expert Member
- May 18, 2014
- 4,569
- 9,429
Maisha ya mwanadamu kwa sasa yanategemea mno bidhaa za plastiki katika kuhifadhia mizigo mbalimbali ikiwamo vyakula, maji na mafuta ya kula.
Licha ya kutumika katika matumizi mbalimbali katika kuhifadhia vitu, imebainika kuwa plastiki ina madhara makubwa katika matumizi ya binadamu.
Utafiti uliofanywa na Jumuiya ya Madaktari wa Marekani ulitoa tahadhari kuhusu matumizi ya vyombo vya plastiki vinavyotumika kufungashia na kubebea vyakula.
Wanasayansi hao wanasema plastiki ina madhara makubwa endapo ikikutana na joto kali na kutoa kemikali iitwayo BPA(bisphenol A).
Mwaka jana, Serikali kupitia Waziri wa Nchi, Ofisi ya Makamu wa Rais Muungano na Mazingira, January Makamba alipiga marufuku moja kwa moja, utengenezaji, usambazaji, uingizaji na matumizi ya mifuko ya plastiki nchini kuanzia mwaka huu.
Makamba alisema mifuko ya plastiki imekuwa na changamoto kubwa ya mazingira kwa kuwa sehemu kubwa ya mifuko hiyo hutolewa bure na kusambaa ambapo husababisha mafuriko na athari nyingine kubwa za kimazingira.
Anasema ofisi yake inakamilisha majadiliano ndani ya serikali na baadae kuwahusisha wadau kuhusu dhamira ya kupiga marufuku moja kwa moja matumizi ya mifuko ya plastiki nchini.
Anasema serikali itatoa muda kwa waliojiajiri na kuajiriwa kwenye biashara ya mifuko ya plastiki kujiandaa kuacha shughuli hizo na itawezesha mazingira ya utengenezaji na upatikanaji wa vifungashio mbadala.
“Tumetuma wataalamu wa serikali katika nchi zilizofanikiwa kwenye jambo hili ili kujifunza namna bora ya kulitekeleza jambo hili,” anasema Makamba.
Nchi ya Rwanda na Zanzibar zimefanikiwa katika upigaji marufuku wa mifuko ya rambo baada ya kuonekana ni chanzo cha uchafuzi wa mazingira na mafuriko kutokana na mifuko hiyo kuziba katika mitaro.
Licha ya serikali kupiga marufuku matumizi ya mifuko plastiki, vyombo vya plastiki aina ya sahani, bakuli, vikombe vimeendelea kutumika huku viwanda vikizidi kuvizalisha kwa wingi hivyo kufanya afya ya mwanadamu kuwa hatarini kukumbwa na magonjwa ya saratani.
Walter Miya ni Makamu Mwenyekiti wa Asasi ya Marafiki wa Watoto wenye Saratani Tanzania, anasema plastiki imetengenezwa kwa kemikali zaidi ya 200 ambazo zinaweza kusababisha aina 100 za saratani.
Anasema toka matumizi ya plastiki yazidi kuongezeka nchini, ugonjwa wa saratani nao umeongezeka hasa kwa upande wa akina mama ambapo ugonjwa huu huharibu ukuaji wa mfumo wa uzazi hususani kwa watoto ambao bado hawajazaliwa, mabadiliko ya kijenetiki, matatizo ya kushindwa kuona, uyeyushaji wa chakula tumboni kuwa wa tabu au kutokamilika na ini kushindwa kufanyakazi vizuri.
Anasema kutokana na utafiti mdogo walioufanya inaonesha kuwa asilimia 60 ya saratani zimesababishwa na matumizi ya vifaa vya plastiki.
“Watu wengi wanatumia vifaa vya plastiki bila kujua madhara yake, ukienda majumbani utakuta wanawake wengi wanachemsha maji na kuyahifadhi katika ndoo za plastiki yakiwa bado ya moto.
“Baada ya muda ukija kuchunguza ile ndoo utakuta ina mabaka mabaka maana yake imeshatoa kemikali nyingi na athari hutoiona kwa muda huu, mpaka ifike miaka 10 au 15 na ndio maana huwezi kugundua saratani yako imesababishwa na nini,” anasema Miya.
Anasema pia kuna kinamama ambao hutumia mifuko ya rambo kufunikia wali wakati wa kupika ili uweze kuiva haraka bila kujua kuwa mifuko hiyo ina athari kubwa kutokana na kemikali zilizopo kuingia katika chakula hicho.
Miya anasema jamii inapaswa kupunguza matumizi ya plastiki au kutumia zilizo na viwango ambavyo hazitoleta madhara na kwa upande wa wachemshao maji wanapaswa kusubiri hadi yapoe ndipo wamimine katika ndoo.
“Licha ya jitihada zinazoendelea kufanywa na watu mbalimbali, bado jamii haina uelewa kuhusiana na vifaa hivyo vya plastiki.
“Hivi karibuni kuna taarifa ilisambazwa katika mitandao ya kijamii kuwa watu wasitumie vikombe vya plastiki, sahani, bakuli na hata mifuko ya rambo katika matumizi ya vyakula, lakini ukipita mitaani utakuta bado wanaendelea navyo,” anasema Miya.
Anasema kuna vitu vingi ukiviangalia unaweza ukaogopa ila huwezi kuvikimbia ni kuangalia ni namna gani tunaweza kuvipunguza ili athari ya saratani isizidi kuongezeka.
“Binafsi natembea na kontena langu la aina ya glass ili kuweza kuhifadhia chakula pindi ninapoenda kununua , nimeamua kutembea nalo kutokana na mama lishe wengi kutumia vyombo vya plastiki katika kuwekea chakula,” anasema.
“Kutokana na kukithiri kwa matumizi ya plastiki wakati serikali ilipiga marufuku matumizi ya mifuko ya plastiki, tunahitaji sera na sheria dhidi ya matumizi ya vifaa hivi.
“Inatakiwa iwepo sera ya kutoruhusu kusafirisha maji bila kuwa na vifaa vinavyodhibiti joto kama wafanyavyo wanaposafirisha maziwa,” anasema Miya.
Anashauri iwepo sheria ya kuwadhibiti wauzaji wa maji juani kuanzia asubuhi hadi jioni kutokana na kupata kemikali nyingi inayotoka kwenye chupa za plastiki kwa sababu ya kuwapo juani kwa muda mrefu.
Mtanzania
=====
Bisphenol A, or BPA, is a chemical found in many hard plastics that we use every day. Higher doses have been linked to infertility and other health problems.
Products that contain BPA include water bottles, baby bottles, dental fillings and sealants, dental devices, medical devices, eyeglass lenses, DVDs and CDs, household electronic items, and sports equipment.
It can also be found in epoxy resins that are used to coat the inside of food and drinks cans.
Large amounts of BPA are produced each year. It leaches into food and water supplies, and humans are widely exposed to it.
Possible health hazards of BPA
Bisphenol A is found in the plastic bottles and packages we use every day.
BPA is an endocrine disruptor.
It can imitate the body's hormones, and it can interfere with the production, secretion, transport, action, function, and elimination of natural hormones.
BPA can behave in a similar way to estrogen and other hormones in the human body.
Infants and young children are said to be especially sensitive to the effects of BPA.
Research suggests it can impact human health in various ways.
Reproductive disorders
In 2013, scientists from Brigham and Women's Hospital published findings showing that BPA exposure can affect egg maturation in humans.
A review of previous studies, published in 2015, found evidence that BPA can interfere with endocrine function involving the hypothalamus and the pituitary gland.
The researchers suggested that this type of action can affect puberty and ovulation, and that it may lead to infertility.
The authors add: "The detrimental effects on reproduction may be lifelong and transgenerational."
Male impotence may be affected, according to a study that looked at the effect of men's exposure to BPA at work. Findings indicated that high-level exposure may increase the risk of erectile dysfunction and problems with sexual desire and ejaculation.
Heart disease
Research has linked even low-dose BPA exposure to cardiovascular problems, including coronary artery heart disease, angina, heart attack, hypertension, and peripheral artery disease.
Findings suggest that this type of exposure could trigger arrhythmias, atherosclerosis, and blood pressure changes.
Type 2 diabetes and body weight
There is evidence that low-level exposure to BPA could contribute to insulin resistance and therefore diabetes type 2. Less reliable evidence indicates that it may also impact body weight.
Fetal brain development
Environmental exposure to BPA has the potential to affect the developing brain during gestation, according to research.
The impact includes changes in structural development, interference with estrogen regulation, DNA modifications. This could have effects on social behavior and anxiety after birth.
Breast and prostate cancer
Scientists believe BPA, with its estrogen-like behavior, could increase the risk of breast, prostate, and other cancers in people who were exposed to it in the womb.
In 2015, a group of researchers concluded that "Fetal exposure to BPA could lead to "long-lasting" effects on the carcinogenesis of certain organs," potentially leading to the development of hormone-related cancers.
Scientists have also found that BPA could interfere with the effectiveness of chemotherapy in breast cancer treatment.
Asthma
A systematic review published in 2016 found that exposure to BPA before birth increased the risk of wheezing and asthma, especially if it occurred during the second trimester.
Sources of exposure
Public authorities set BPA safety levels, but concerns remain about degrees of exposure.
Dental sealants can also contain Bisphenol A. Be sure to speak to a dentist before application of the sealant.
One study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found BPA in nearly all human urine samples, suggesting that exposure is widespread across the United States (U.S.).
The CDC note that people are commonly exposed to low levels of BPA when they consume food or water that has been stored in containers made with the chemical.
Children may also be exposed by touching items that are made with BPA and then putting their hands in their mouth, or by putting their mouth on the item.
Other means of exposure include:
BPA probably enters the system when the fingers are placed in the mouth, rather than through the skin.
A study of 77 Harvard College students found one week of drinking water from polycarbonate bottles increased the levels of BPA in by two-thirds. This suggests that regular consumption of water from such bottles significantly increases exposure to BPA.
BPA is used in infant's feeding bottles, so breast-feeding an infant is likely to reduce levels of BPA exposure.
How serious is the risk?
In August 2010, a report by the National Toxicology Program concluded that current levels of BPA raise:
The United States (U.S.) Food and Drug Administration (FDA) continues to support the use of BPA in current food packaging, because the amount that leaches into food is small.
Licha ya kutumika katika matumizi mbalimbali katika kuhifadhia vitu, imebainika kuwa plastiki ina madhara makubwa katika matumizi ya binadamu.
Utafiti uliofanywa na Jumuiya ya Madaktari wa Marekani ulitoa tahadhari kuhusu matumizi ya vyombo vya plastiki vinavyotumika kufungashia na kubebea vyakula.
Wanasayansi hao wanasema plastiki ina madhara makubwa endapo ikikutana na joto kali na kutoa kemikali iitwayo BPA(bisphenol A).
Mwaka jana, Serikali kupitia Waziri wa Nchi, Ofisi ya Makamu wa Rais Muungano na Mazingira, January Makamba alipiga marufuku moja kwa moja, utengenezaji, usambazaji, uingizaji na matumizi ya mifuko ya plastiki nchini kuanzia mwaka huu.
Makamba alisema mifuko ya plastiki imekuwa na changamoto kubwa ya mazingira kwa kuwa sehemu kubwa ya mifuko hiyo hutolewa bure na kusambaa ambapo husababisha mafuriko na athari nyingine kubwa za kimazingira.
Anasema ofisi yake inakamilisha majadiliano ndani ya serikali na baadae kuwahusisha wadau kuhusu dhamira ya kupiga marufuku moja kwa moja matumizi ya mifuko ya plastiki nchini.
Anasema serikali itatoa muda kwa waliojiajiri na kuajiriwa kwenye biashara ya mifuko ya plastiki kujiandaa kuacha shughuli hizo na itawezesha mazingira ya utengenezaji na upatikanaji wa vifungashio mbadala.
“Tumetuma wataalamu wa serikali katika nchi zilizofanikiwa kwenye jambo hili ili kujifunza namna bora ya kulitekeleza jambo hili,” anasema Makamba.
Nchi ya Rwanda na Zanzibar zimefanikiwa katika upigaji marufuku wa mifuko ya rambo baada ya kuonekana ni chanzo cha uchafuzi wa mazingira na mafuriko kutokana na mifuko hiyo kuziba katika mitaro.
Licha ya serikali kupiga marufuku matumizi ya mifuko plastiki, vyombo vya plastiki aina ya sahani, bakuli, vikombe vimeendelea kutumika huku viwanda vikizidi kuvizalisha kwa wingi hivyo kufanya afya ya mwanadamu kuwa hatarini kukumbwa na magonjwa ya saratani.
Walter Miya ni Makamu Mwenyekiti wa Asasi ya Marafiki wa Watoto wenye Saratani Tanzania, anasema plastiki imetengenezwa kwa kemikali zaidi ya 200 ambazo zinaweza kusababisha aina 100 za saratani.
Anasema toka matumizi ya plastiki yazidi kuongezeka nchini, ugonjwa wa saratani nao umeongezeka hasa kwa upande wa akina mama ambapo ugonjwa huu huharibu ukuaji wa mfumo wa uzazi hususani kwa watoto ambao bado hawajazaliwa, mabadiliko ya kijenetiki, matatizo ya kushindwa kuona, uyeyushaji wa chakula tumboni kuwa wa tabu au kutokamilika na ini kushindwa kufanyakazi vizuri.
Anasema kutokana na utafiti mdogo walioufanya inaonesha kuwa asilimia 60 ya saratani zimesababishwa na matumizi ya vifaa vya plastiki.
“Watu wengi wanatumia vifaa vya plastiki bila kujua madhara yake, ukienda majumbani utakuta wanawake wengi wanachemsha maji na kuyahifadhi katika ndoo za plastiki yakiwa bado ya moto.
“Baada ya muda ukija kuchunguza ile ndoo utakuta ina mabaka mabaka maana yake imeshatoa kemikali nyingi na athari hutoiona kwa muda huu, mpaka ifike miaka 10 au 15 na ndio maana huwezi kugundua saratani yako imesababishwa na nini,” anasema Miya.
Anasema pia kuna kinamama ambao hutumia mifuko ya rambo kufunikia wali wakati wa kupika ili uweze kuiva haraka bila kujua kuwa mifuko hiyo ina athari kubwa kutokana na kemikali zilizopo kuingia katika chakula hicho.
Miya anasema jamii inapaswa kupunguza matumizi ya plastiki au kutumia zilizo na viwango ambavyo hazitoleta madhara na kwa upande wa wachemshao maji wanapaswa kusubiri hadi yapoe ndipo wamimine katika ndoo.
“Licha ya jitihada zinazoendelea kufanywa na watu mbalimbali, bado jamii haina uelewa kuhusiana na vifaa hivyo vya plastiki.
“Hivi karibuni kuna taarifa ilisambazwa katika mitandao ya kijamii kuwa watu wasitumie vikombe vya plastiki, sahani, bakuli na hata mifuko ya rambo katika matumizi ya vyakula, lakini ukipita mitaani utakuta bado wanaendelea navyo,” anasema Miya.
Anasema kuna vitu vingi ukiviangalia unaweza ukaogopa ila huwezi kuvikimbia ni kuangalia ni namna gani tunaweza kuvipunguza ili athari ya saratani isizidi kuongezeka.
“Binafsi natembea na kontena langu la aina ya glass ili kuweza kuhifadhia chakula pindi ninapoenda kununua , nimeamua kutembea nalo kutokana na mama lishe wengi kutumia vyombo vya plastiki katika kuwekea chakula,” anasema.
“Kutokana na kukithiri kwa matumizi ya plastiki wakati serikali ilipiga marufuku matumizi ya mifuko ya plastiki, tunahitaji sera na sheria dhidi ya matumizi ya vifaa hivi.
“Inatakiwa iwepo sera ya kutoruhusu kusafirisha maji bila kuwa na vifaa vinavyodhibiti joto kama wafanyavyo wanaposafirisha maziwa,” anasema Miya.
Anashauri iwepo sheria ya kuwadhibiti wauzaji wa maji juani kuanzia asubuhi hadi jioni kutokana na kupata kemikali nyingi inayotoka kwenye chupa za plastiki kwa sababu ya kuwapo juani kwa muda mrefu.
Mtanzania
=====
Bisphenol A, or BPA, is a chemical found in many hard plastics that we use every day. Higher doses have been linked to infertility and other health problems.
Products that contain BPA include water bottles, baby bottles, dental fillings and sealants, dental devices, medical devices, eyeglass lenses, DVDs and CDs, household electronic items, and sports equipment.
It can also be found in epoxy resins that are used to coat the inside of food and drinks cans.
Large amounts of BPA are produced each year. It leaches into food and water supplies, and humans are widely exposed to it.
Possible health hazards of BPA
Bisphenol A is found in the plastic bottles and packages we use every day.
BPA is an endocrine disruptor.
It can imitate the body's hormones, and it can interfere with the production, secretion, transport, action, function, and elimination of natural hormones.
BPA can behave in a similar way to estrogen and other hormones in the human body.
Infants and young children are said to be especially sensitive to the effects of BPA.
Research suggests it can impact human health in various ways.
Reproductive disorders
In 2013, scientists from Brigham and Women's Hospital published findings showing that BPA exposure can affect egg maturation in humans.
A review of previous studies, published in 2015, found evidence that BPA can interfere with endocrine function involving the hypothalamus and the pituitary gland.
The researchers suggested that this type of action can affect puberty and ovulation, and that it may lead to infertility.
The authors add: "The detrimental effects on reproduction may be lifelong and transgenerational."
Male impotence may be affected, according to a study that looked at the effect of men's exposure to BPA at work. Findings indicated that high-level exposure may increase the risk of erectile dysfunction and problems with sexual desire and ejaculation.
Heart disease
Research has linked even low-dose BPA exposure to cardiovascular problems, including coronary artery heart disease, angina, heart attack, hypertension, and peripheral artery disease.
Findings suggest that this type of exposure could trigger arrhythmias, atherosclerosis, and blood pressure changes.
Type 2 diabetes and body weight
There is evidence that low-level exposure to BPA could contribute to insulin resistance and therefore diabetes type 2. Less reliable evidence indicates that it may also impact body weight.
Fetal brain development
Environmental exposure to BPA has the potential to affect the developing brain during gestation, according to research.
The impact includes changes in structural development, interference with estrogen regulation, DNA modifications. This could have effects on social behavior and anxiety after birth.
Breast and prostate cancer
Scientists believe BPA, with its estrogen-like behavior, could increase the risk of breast, prostate, and other cancers in people who were exposed to it in the womb.
In 2015, a group of researchers concluded that "Fetal exposure to BPA could lead to "long-lasting" effects on the carcinogenesis of certain organs," potentially leading to the development of hormone-related cancers.
Scientists have also found that BPA could interfere with the effectiveness of chemotherapy in breast cancer treatment.
Asthma
A systematic review published in 2016 found that exposure to BPA before birth increased the risk of wheezing and asthma, especially if it occurred during the second trimester.
Sources of exposure
Public authorities set BPA safety levels, but concerns remain about degrees of exposure.
Dental sealants can also contain Bisphenol A. Be sure to speak to a dentist before application of the sealant.
One study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found BPA in nearly all human urine samples, suggesting that exposure is widespread across the United States (U.S.).
The CDC note that people are commonly exposed to low levels of BPA when they consume food or water that has been stored in containers made with the chemical.
Children may also be exposed by touching items that are made with BPA and then putting their hands in their mouth, or by putting their mouth on the item.
Other means of exposure include:
- having dental sealants that contain BPA
- working in places that manufacture products with BPA in them
- using harsh detergents, high-temperature liquids, or products that contain acidic liquids to clean containers
BPA probably enters the system when the fingers are placed in the mouth, rather than through the skin.
A study of 77 Harvard College students found one week of drinking water from polycarbonate bottles increased the levels of BPA in by two-thirds. This suggests that regular consumption of water from such bottles significantly increases exposure to BPA.
BPA is used in infant's feeding bottles, so breast-feeding an infant is likely to reduce levels of BPA exposure.
How serious is the risk?
In August 2010, a report by the National Toxicology Program concluded that current levels of BPA raise:
- some concern about the effect on the brain, on behavior, and on the prostate gland in fetuses, infants, and children
- minimal concern about the effect on the mammary gland and early puberty
- negligible concern that BPA exposure will lead to fetal abnormalities, low birth weight, and reproductive problems
The United States (U.S.) Food and Drug Administration (FDA) continues to support the use of BPA in current food packaging, because the amount that leaches into food is small.
