The article "Plastic proved problem to primates" (Sept. 13 issue) was a great shock to me. How terrible that bisphenol A interferes with monkeys' brain cell connections vital to memory, learning and mood when exposed to levels of BPA deemed safe for humans! This compound has long been suspected one of the endocrine disrupters contained in household commodities. For all that, however, we cannot do without plastics. It is no exaggeration to say that such plastic materials have carried modern civilization. Actually, they are indispensable. How I wish chemists could concentrate their wisdom and synthesize an innocuous compound instead of BPA.

Nowadays, the most topical issue is global warming. But I have some doubts about this. Everybody believes that it is caused by greenhouse gas emissions. According to the classic science fiction novel Dai yon kampyo-ki, or Inter Ice Age 4, written by Kobo Abe in 1958, global warming occurs not only because of greenhouse effects but also due to tectonic matters of the Earth itself. The Earth has repeated cycles between hot and cold since it was created. In this story, sea levels rise by around 1,000 meters! There is no way to keep our usual life on land.

I am very shocked that the novel shows us the awful future though it was written 50 years ago as a warning. Nobody knows the future, but this book suggests that we must watch and be careful for the next generation.

I read the article "Are hot dogs a serious cancer risk?" (Sept. 6 issue) because hot dogs are one of my husband's favorite foods. At first, I worried about his health while reading only the headline, but I got the content precisely when reading it through.

The media has had a strong influence on our daily lives. Some TV programs emphasize the merits of a certain food, and after the program, viewers rush to supermarkets to get it. But intake of only the food introduced on the program may have bad effects on us. So it's our responsibility to correctly judge information from newspapers, TV or radio programs, or through the Internet.

Food plays an important role in health. Without something to eat, we could not survive. As the article says, eating anything moderately is more important than giving up eating. A balanced diet is the first priority. Not only should we rely on a good diet, but also exercise and weight control are necessary so that we can maintain our health. I now know about processed meats more than before, but there are more processed foods in the marketplace. I'd like to know more about such foods.

I look forward to reading the Weekly every week. The paper not only gives me various information but enlarges my perspective of the world.

I especially prefer to read the national news sections because they enable me to explain in English things going on in Japan.

The Japan Times Weekly: Oct. 4, 2008
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