7 Nasty Effects of BPA – The Plastic Chemical
Bisphenol a (BPA) is the widely used chemical found in many plastics, food can linings, and even on US dollars and receipts. Known as an endocrine-disrupting chemical that mimics the hormone estrogen, BPA has been linked to numerous negative health effects in countless studies. The worst part? While the Food and Drug Administration considered banning the chemical in March of 2012, the ban was denied, and BPA continues to be ubiquitous. So what exactly does mean? It means the entire U.S. is still subjected to the chemical’s negative effects.
Here are 7 nasty effects of BPA.
1. Breast Cancer
Breast cancer is slowly becoming one of the many well-known negative outcomes induced by BPA exposure. In fact, over 130 studies have confirmed the link between bisphenol A and to ailments like breast cancer, obesity, and reproductive problems. Ironically, the popular nonprofit Susan G. Komen for the Cure partners with many bottled water companies for their ‘For the Cure’ races across the nation. The problem, obviously, is that most of these plastic bottles contain BPA.
2. Early Puberty
While girls typically enter into puberty (or have in the past, at least) at just over ten years of age, studies show that this age has fallen by more than a year within only one generation. Some girls are even seeing breasts at 7 years old. Although there are other factors to consider, BPA may be to blame as well.
After examining 1,151 girls between the ages of 6 and 8 in the United States over a two year period, researchers found that multiple chemical classes were detected at high levels within the girls’ urine. About one-third of the girls went through puberty prematurely.
“Our research shows a connection between chemicals that girls are exposed to on a daily basis and either delayed or early development. While more research is needed, these data are an important first step in evaluating the impact of these common environmental agents in putting girls at risk,” lead researchers Dr Mary Wolff said.
3. Heart Disease
Some research has linked both BPA and phthalates to a disorder known as atherosclerosis. This disorder, which is the hardening of the arteries through the buildup of plaques, negatively impacts blood flow and ultimately increases your risk of heart disease. Shocking, the research is not the first of its kind. One team also found that individuals with higher levels of bisphenol-a in their urine were more than twice as likely to suffer from coronary heart disease than those with lower levels.
4. and 5. Infertility in Males and Females
Bisphenol a has been found to be adversely affecting male genital development, subsequently leading to compromised fertility health. One study examined the effects of BPA on the distance between the genitalia and the anus in males, known as the Anogenital distance (AGD). AGD is very important biologically for a number of reasons, and plays a prominent role in the health of one’s fertility. Researchers found that parental exposure to BPA during pregnancy was associated with shortened AGD in male offspring. In other words, high level BPA exposure led to offspring with AGD defects.
AGD has been linked to fertility in males, making BPA’s negative impact on the male reproductive system noteworthy. Men with an AGD lower than the median, which sits around 52 mm (2 in), have seven times the chance of being sub-fertile as compared to those with a longer AGD.
But males aren’t the only one’s suffering; BPA has been linked to reproductive issues in women as well. In one study, researchers found that BPA caused reproductive problems that can affect women, including abnormal egg development. The eggs of fetuses exposed to BPA had difficulty forming follicles, which ultimately increases the risk of eggs dying before maturation. Additionally, the researchers observed other abnormalities, showing signs that they would carry too many chromosomes as a result of not dividing during development. This could lead to miscarriages or disorders like Down Syndrome.
6. Sparks Multiple Negative Brain Alterations
Further adding on to BPAs long list of negative effects, some research has also found that the chemical disrupts a gene responsible for proper nerve cell function, ultimately leading to compromised brain development. Researchers of the study, published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, discovered that BPA could damage central nervous system development by disrupting a gene called Kcc2.
“Our study found that BPA may impair the development of the central nervous system, and raises the question as to whether exposure could predispose animals and humans to neurodevelopmental disorders,” study researcher Dr. Wolfgang Liedtke, M.D., Ph.D., said.
Another study found that exposure to bisphenol-A early in life can spark changes in gene expression. The changes occur in a part of the brain called the amygdala, which can lead to increased levels of anxiety.
The study abstract states:
“Early life exposure to Bisphenol A (BPA), a component of polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins, alters sociosexual behavior in numerous species including humans. The present study focused on the ontogeny of these behavioral effects beginning in adolescence and assessed the underlying molecular changes in the amygdala.”
7. Obesity
Last, but certainly not least, BPA may be one of many factors responsible for the obesity epidemic. One study found that high BPA exposure is associated with obesity in the general adult population in the U.S.
Another study, examining BPA concentrations in the urine of kids aged 6 to 19, found that obese children made up 22% of individuals with the highest BPA levels in their urine. About 10% of kids who had the lowest BPA concentration in their urine were obese.
Additional Sources:
| | Mike is the co-founder, editor, and researcher behind Natural Society. Studying the work of top natural health activists, and writing special reports for top 10 alternative health websites, Mike has written hundreds of articles and pages on how to obtain optimum wellness through natural health. |
I can understand most of the studies but the one in obesity is pretty misunderstood. Let’s think about it. Bpa is found in mostly all canned and processed food packages …right? So, increase in bpa In urine is really just telling us that these kids are eating tons of processed, excess in salts and fatty foods so obviously they would be the most obese vs the kids that avoid canned foods. It could be that bpa has nothing to do with it and is more the case that they are just eating more canned foods which is the leading factor in their obesity. Who the hell ran these studies? Don’t just accept everything you read on the internet as fact.
Yes. BPA and BPS is in the so-called safe alternatives-to-mercury, dental fillings, and it is easily activated in the oral environment. Here’s a scan from the paper version of the trade journal American Laboratory, March 2014. In table 1, it lists all the ingredients (you may have to enlarge it to read). Some of the leaching issues are listed on the top right paragraph. The next page of the article states (paragraph 2): “…the biological compatibility of the components and their effects on human health are often an issue. Some ingredients may cause chronic pulpitis, irritate oral tissues, show bacterial growth inhibitory effects, or lead to allergic reactions. Furthermore, cytotoxic, genotoxic, mutagenic, or estrogenic effects may be casued by monomers or filling materials released from the composite materials” (even though your dentist and the FDA will say it’s safe).
(Java – I’m a year late in my reply here, but Natural Society had this article linked in their recent newsletter. Since I had this info at my fingertips, I figured this was as good of a place as any to stick it for all to see).
True. So have I and I was a cashier for just donkey’s years!! Well, I’m sure the ink was poison too, but then think of all the poisons from the products, the labels, the money (most of screamingly, annoyingly new), and the dirty money as well and they say a drug dog will light on ANY one carrying paper money for all the drugs on them. No wonder my brain is fried, plus all the stuff I’m eating because I haven’t got one inch outside to grow anything for myself. Even if I went outside the apartment and grew something others would steal it so I’m STILL not growing anything “myself” (for myself) just for the junkies and thieves……
I recently read that BPA is also found in receipt paper.
thanks for telling me all the problems it causes but not how to avoid the shit, GREAT ARTICLE
If you just stop using plastic water bottles and plastic food storage containers – then you already have removed a great deal of your exposure!
yes, use other kind like ceramic, porcelain, glass*** oven proof, st. steel, etc.. NO PLASTICS OF ANY KIND WITH FOOD. all are 'artificially man made' and full with toxics chemicals.
Just use your common sense on the matter. If plastic is bad for you….ovoid using plastic. 🙂
I have a lot of white dental fillings that must contain BPA but there is no way to remove them. BPA is now being replaced with BPS which is just as toxic.
YOUR dental fillings probably (or many people's) have mercury … and that has not been band either. Beside, there are many other plastics used in food that are full with toxic chemicals, with similar properties to destroy our bodies. SO, DO NOT USE ANY PLASTIC (wrap, or other kinds) with food. use: glass, ceramic/pocelain or terracota, stain st. etc… save items.