Emerging Science Reveals Chemicals From Myriad Sources Show Up in Food and May Be Harmful at Loner Amounts than Thought New York, N.Y.. -On the heels of tlie decision last month by the U.S. Food & Dnig Administration (FDA) to allow continued use of the chemical bisplicnol-A (BPA) in food packaging, a new report today. "If Food is in Plastic. What's in the Food?" in the Washington Post, produced in collaboration with the Food & Environment Reporting Network, looks at how people arc exposed to BPA and other chemicals through food-contact plastics and explores the potential impacts on human health. The article, by reporter Susan Frcinkel. author of Plastic: A Toxic Love Story, examines the emerging science on such chemicals which may interfere with natural hormones and be harmful at extremely low levels of exposure. BPA and phthalatcs arc among tlic 3.000 chemicals that the FDA has ruled safe if they get into food in very low amounts. The report notes that a number of these chemicals used in food processing and packaging materials liavc shown up in food. Some scientists question their safety, in part because these chemicals have not yet been studied for their cumulative effects. In addition, research proves difficult because companies often consider their formulas proprietary. "Finding out which chemicals might have seeped into your groceries is nearly impossible, given the limited information collected and disclosed by regulators, the scientific challenges of this research and the secrecy of the food and packaging industries, which view their components ;is proprietary information." Frcinkel writes. "Although scientists arc learning more about the pathways of these substances - and their potential effect on health - there is an enormous debate among scientists, policymakers and industry experts about what levels arc safe." Freinkel explains how plastic food packaging is a major source of these potentially liarmful chemicals, which most Americans harbor in their bodies. For instance, studies have slwwnphtlialatcs—a family of chemicals used in lubricants and solvents and which imparts flexibility to plastics—passing into food from processing equipment and food-prep gloves, gaskets and seals on non-plastic containers, inks used on labels—which ran permeate packaging—and even the plastic film used in agriculture. She highlights a forthcoming study that found the pltthalalc DEHP in many of the 72 different grocery items sampled. Studies have associated low-dose exposure to this chemical with male reproductive disorders, thyroid dysfunction and subtle behavioral changes. Last month, tlic FDA denied a petition to ban BPA. saying in a statement that while "some studies have raised questions as to whether BPA may be associated with a variety of health effects, there remain serious questions about these studies, particularly as tlicy relate to humans and the public health impact." For additional reporting on the story, see hllp:,/thefem.org P.I. Fraud Sting Nabs Chiropractor in Bridgeport BRIDGEPORT, C.T. - A Milford chiropractor faces up to five vears in prison after admitting to conspiring to make false statements relating to health care matters as part of a million-dollar fraud scheme. Jennifer Lynnc. 39. who owns and operates The Backstroke on Stale Street in Bridgeport, waived her right to indictment and pleaded guilty Thursday before U.S. District Judge Stefan R. Undcrhill. according to a news release from the office of U.S. Attorney David B. Fein. Lynnc will be sentenced on June 7 and faces a maximum of five years in prison and up to a $250,000 fine. Fourotlicrs have pleaded guilty - including two chiropractors, a licensed doctor of ostcopathic medicine and a formerly licensed physician—as part of "Operation Running Man." a 14-monlh undercover fraud investigation led by the FBI. An undercover special agent recorded meetings with an attorney, various doctors and chiropractors arising out of auto-accident personal injury litigation, according to the news release. Lynnc is a licensed chiropractor who worked for Marc Kirshncr. a chiropractor who owned a practice with offices in Stamford and Bridgeport. Between about December 2006 and February 2010. Lynnc. Kirshncr and another chiropractor employed by Kirshncr. Jennifer Nelter. performed unnecessary chiropractic treatments on individuals who were involved in auto accidents, according to court documents and statements made in court. Prosecutors said tliat as part of the scheme. Lynnc and Ncttcr. directed by Kirshncr. routinely established six-month treatment regimens for patients, regardless of medical need. They also conspired to falsify medical records, including fake patient assessments and exaggerated injury reports. These reports were then passed along with health insurance claims for payment to insurance companies. Kirshner pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to commit mail fraud and admitted his role in the conspiracy led to the loss of about $ 1.69 million by 10 insurance carriers. Ncttcr. a 38-ycar-old Danbtiry resident who was pregnant at the time, pleaded guilty on July 20. 2011. to one count of conspiring to make false statements relating to health care niiitters. Netter allowed her chiropractor's license to become inactive on Sept. 30. 2010. Francisco R. Carbonc. a 54-year-old former Bridgeport doctor and psychiatrist pleaded guilty last summer to four federal cliargcs relating to the scam. Dr. James W. Marshall, who operates Immediate Medical Care on Main Street in Monroe pleaded guilty to illegally writing prescriptions at Carbonc's request for narcotic painkillers to patients he never saw. Court documents claim tliat an unnamed Bridgeport attorney, with personal injury clients receiving some sort of state aid, sent clients to tlic chiropractors offices for treatment. Carbonc. whose license to practice medicine was pulled by the state in 2005. would recommend pain killers and Marshall would prescribe them. Carbone would also require patients to undergo nerve conduction velocity testing at a diagnostic testing center owned by Kirshncr. The tests cost $2.0(K) each. When the lengthy treatments were finished. Carbone would write final medical reports claiming patients suffered permanent disabilities in the accidents. Kirshncr. Ncttcr. Carbonc and Marshall arc all awaiting sentencing. Tlic investigation is ongoing and tlie unnamed Bridgeport lawyer is reportedly a target of the probe. Read more: lillp: www.clposl.com policereports article Chiropractor-pIeads-giiih}Hn-fraiid-probe-3412412.phplfixzzlsJUyc7k4 |JQ]| Pass on the information to inform other D.C. 's about e\>ents that are really happening to chiropractors. For further information, fax 1-305-716-9212. Write us at editorialfqi.amchiropractor.com or MCO138, 8619 NW68th St., Miami, FL 33166.
