Study Links High BPA Exposure To Infant Abnormalities

When a woman is exposed to high levels of bisphenol A (BPA) her baby is more likely to have neurobehavioral abnormalities.

That's the conclusion of a new study published online in Environmental Health Perspectives. Researcher Sheela Sathyanarayana, MD of Seattle Children's Research Institute, led the team that says it has established a link between the two.

It's just the latest research to suggest negative health effects from the chemical.

BPA, a synthetic, man-made chemical, is used in a wide variety of products including: can linings; hard polycarbonate plastics such as baby bottles and reusable cups; and dental sealants. Food may be the single largest source of BPA exposure due to contamination of foods during preparation and processing.

Studies

In animal studies, exposure to BPA early in life can lead to a variety of abnormalities in early development of the brain, behavior, prostate gland and breast tissues.

In human studies, exposure to BPA early in life has not been studied extensively. However, one study found an association between BPA exposure in pregnancy and abnormal acting out behaviors in female children. In adults, increased BPA exposure has been associated with changes in hormone concentrations, sperm quality, and endometriosis.

"Pregnant women are often exposed to BPA in their daily lives," said Sathyanarayana, pediatrician and environmental health specialist at Seattle Children's and assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of Washington School of Medicine. "It's important that they are aware of the potential sources of BPA, so they can take steps to avoid unnecessary exposures."

You may not be able to completely avoid BPA, but there are steps you can take to reduce your family's exposure to it:

• Limit the amount of canned foods your family eats.
• Rinse canned fruits and vegetables before eating. When possible, choose fresh fruits and vegetables instead.
• Limit the amount of canned beverages your family drinks.
• Avoid using plastic food and beverage storage containers with #7 on the bottom. If the recycling code is #7, then the plastic may contain BPA.
• Avoid using plastic baby bottles with #7 on the bottom.
• Decrease the use of all plastic food storage containers.
• Avoid using plastic food storage containers to heat food in the microwave. (High temperatures increase the chance of food absorbing BPA.)
• Use ceramic, glass, or other microwaveable dishes when heating food in the microwave.
• Avoid canned infant formula. Instead, use powdered formula or liquid formula sold in plastic or glass containers.

Meanwhile, the National Institutes of Health announced last year that it would conduct a $30 million study to determine the safety of BPA.