Although the effects of bisphenol A are not understood as well as those of phthalates, there is enough evidence to raise an alarm. Some countries, like Japan, have already banned its use.

First devised as a sex hormone drug in 1936, chemists realized bisphenol A could be used to make polycarbonate in 1962.

Study – bisphenol A in rodents

Professor Vom Saal at the University of Missouri has been researching endocrine disruptors since 1991 and looking particularly at bisphenol A since 1995. Although there are no human studies, in animal studies he has learned that small doses of bisphenol A injure reproductive organs in male pups, increase the size of the prostate and decrease sperm production. In the female pups exposed in the womb, Professor Vom Saal found that the estrogenic effects of bisphenol A alter uterine and breast cells, significantly increase body weight, and result in the early onset of puberty. The dosage given to mice in these studies is comparable to the amount of bisphenol A children are exposed to on a daily basis in this country.

Professor Vom Saal’s research also links low-dose exposure to an array of behavioral outcomes in animals such as ADHD, hyperactivity, poor motor skills, and learning disabilities. How do researchers know if bisphenol A has the same effects in humans? Dr. Vom Saal explains, “We don’t know for sure, but we see these growing health trends, starting in childhood – hyper-aggressiveness, learning problems, and difficulty with social interactions and play behavior. And, later, if not in childhood, chronic anxiety. Some of these trends are so prevalent they almost seem normal: abnormal puberty changes, fertility difficulties for both men and women, breast cancer, prostate cancer. All of these trends parallel the onset of the plastics revolution that began 25-30 years ago. Part of this is just connecting the dots.”

Today, with more than 6.6 billion pounds produced yearly, clear plastic is everywhere.

In animal studies bisphenol A is linked to:

§ Early on-set of puberty
§ Obesity
§ Larger than normal prostate
§ Small sperm carrying ducts
§ Reduced sperm count
§ Breast changes that represent early stages of breast cancer
§ Altered immune function

“How are our children exposed to bisphenol A?”

Bisphenol A is used in polycarbonate, the hard, shiny plastic used to make many products, including clear plastic baby bottles, toddler sippy cups, dental sealants, the interior coating of some food cans, sport bottles like Nalgene, and 5-gallon water jugs. The greatest exposure comes not from touching but when food and beverages come in contact with bisphenol A, soaking it up, especially when food and liquid are heated up in a polycarbonate receptacle. The more you heat the container, especially when it’s scratched, the more bisphenol A you drive into the food. For this reason, never pour hot liquid into polycarbonate bottles, and if they are old or scratched, bisphenol A can migrate more readily into your food so it is best to throw them out. Because bisphenol A moves easily through the placenta, moms can pass it to their unborn babies.

“What can I do right now to reduce my family’s risk to bisphenol A?”

If you stop using polycarbonate, based on evidence in countries like Japan where they have banned bisphenol A, children will experience a rapid drop in bisphenol A levels in their bodies.

Stay tuned for Thursday’s post on how to protect children from harmful plastics.