www.medicalnewstoday.com - February 14th, 2013
Bisphenol A, often known as BPA is a chemical found in hard plastics and the coatings of food and drinks cans which can behave in a similar way to estrogen and other hormones in the human body. BPA is used to make many products, including water bottles, baby bottles, dental fillings and sealants, dental devices, medical devices, eyeglass lenses, DVDs and CDs, household electronic and sports equipment. BPA can also be found in epoxy resins which is used as coatings inside food and drinks cans.
Bisphenol a is an endocrine disruptor - a substance which interferes with the production, secretion, transport, action, function and elimination of natural hormones. BPA can imitate our body's own hormones in a way that could be hazardous for health. Babies and young children are said to be especially sensitive to the effects of BPA.Although public authorities set BPA safety levels, many experts believe these levels should be reviewed after a number of recent studies were published. The Endocrine Society, USA, in 2009 expressed concern in a public statement over current human exposure to BPA.A CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) study found 95% of adult human urine samples and 93% of samples in children had bisphenol A.
What are the possible health effects of bisphenol A (BPA) on humans
Reproductive disorders - there is some concern BPA can cause human reproductive disorders.
Male impotence - BPA was found in one study to be linked to erectile dysfunction and other male sexual problems.
Heart disease (females) - BPA can cause heart disease in women, scientists at the University of Cincinnati found.
Heart disease in adults - another US study linked bisphenol A to diabetes and heart disease in adults.
Sex hormones in men - an August 2010 study linked BPA exposure to changes in sex hormones in men.
Type 2 diabetes - A UK study linked higher levels of urinary BPA to cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and liver-enzyme abnormalities.
Brain function, memory, learning - US researchers linked BPA exposure to loss of connections between brain cells in primates, potential problems with memory and learning, as well as depression.
Women's eggs - Californian researchers found that exposure to bisphenol A may affect the quality of a woman's eggs retrieved for in vitro fertilization (IVF).
Chemotherapy - University of Cincinnati scientists found that Bisphenol A exposure may reduce chemotherapy treatment effectiveness.
Breast cancer - A Yale School of Medicine study found a possible increase in breast cancer risk among females exposed to BPA and DES (Diethylstilbestrol) in the womb.
Asthma - A US study suggested a link between increasing asthma rates and a particular threshold of BPA.
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