Health Watch
By Larry West
About.com
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| 3D chemical structure of bisphenol A. (Illustration: Wikipedia, Edgar181.) |
The growing controversy over the health effects of bisphenol A, more commonly called BPA, is bound to heat up even more with the publication last week of a new study that links BPA exposure to erectile dysfunction and other sexual problems in men.
Bisphenol A is an industrial chemical widely used in common plastic products, such as baby bottles, children’s toys, and the linings of most food and beverage cans.Many scientific studies — including the largest study of BPA ever conducted on humans — have found links between BPA and serious health problems, from heart disease, diabetes and liver abnormalities in adults to developmental problems in the brains and hormonal systems of children.
Over the course of five years, the federally funded study followed 634 male workers at four factories in China who were exposed to high levels of BPA, comparing their sexual health with that of male workers in other Chinese factories where BPA exposure was not part of the work environment.
Given the wide use of BPA in so many products we encounter every day, it is probably impossible to completely eliminate your exposure to this potentially harmful chemical. Still, you can lower your exposure — and your risk of possible health problems associated with BPA — by taking a few simple precautions. In 2007, the Environmental Working Group hired an independent laboratory to conduct an analysis of BPA in many different canned foods and beverages. The study found that the amount of BPA in canned food varies widely. Chicken soup, infant formula and ravioli had the highest concentrations of BPA, for example, while condensed milk, soda and canned fruit contained much less of the chemical. Here are a few tips to help you lower your exposure to BPA:
The easiest way to lower your intake of BPA is to stop eating so many foods that come into contact with the chemical. Eat fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables, which usually have more nutrients and fewer preservatives than canned foods, and taste better, too. Highly acidic foods, such as tomato sauce and canned pasta, leach more BPA from the lining of cans, so it’s best to choose brands that come in glass containers. Soups, juices and other foods packaged in cardboard cartons made of layers of aluminum and polyethylene plastic (labeled with a number 2 recycling code) are safer than cans with plastic linings containing BPA. Polycarbonate plastic, which is used in packaging for many microwaveable foods, may break down at high temperatures and release BPA. Although manufacturers are not required to say whether a product contains BPA, polycarbonate containers that do are usually marked with a number 7 recycling code on the bottom of the package. Canned juice and soda often contain some BPA, especially if they come in cans lined with BPA-laden plastic. Glass or plastic bottles are safer choices. For portable water bottles, stainless steel is best, but most recyclable plastic water bottles do not contain BPA. Plastic bottles with BPA are usually marked with a number 7 recycling code. To avoid BPA in your hot foods and liquids, switch to glass or porcelain containers, or stainless steel containers without plastic liners. As a general rule, hard, clear plastic contains BPA while soft or cloudy plastic does not. Most major manufacturers now offer baby bottles made without BPA. A study by the Environmental Working Group found that liquid formulas contain more BPA than powdered versions. The fewer canned foods and beverages you consume, the less your exposure to BPA, but you don’t have to cut out canned foods altogether to reduce your exposure and lower your potential health risks. In addition to eating less canned food overall, limit your intake of canned foods that are high in BPA. |
Research Findings on BPA and Sexual Problems
The men working with BPA were four times as likely to experience erectile dysfunction and seven times as likely to have trouble ejaculating, according to the study, which was published in the journal Human Reproduction.
Although the levels of BPA exposure experienced by the affected workers were 50 times what an average U.S. man faces each day, the study confirms a link between BPA exposure and sexual dysfunction in men and raises questions about whether lower levels of exposure to the widely used chemical might cause similar problems over time.
The study is the first to examine the effects of BPA on the reproductive systems of human males.
Previous studies involving mice or rats have found sexual problems that researchers thought might have relevance for men, but critics have dismissed those findings because of the absence of human studies that would validate the research.
BPA is Everywhere
BPA, which was originally developed in the 1930s as a synthetic version of the female hormone estrogen, is now an industrial chemical that is used in thousands of common consumer products — from baby bottles to dental sealants and the lining inside cans of food.
BPA exposure has become so widespread that a 2004 CDC study found it in the urine of an estimated 93 percent of the U.S. population — nearly every man, woman and child in the country.
FDA is Reviewing BPA Safety
Industry lobbyists and some scientists argue that BPA exposure for most people is far below the "safe" levels established by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), but those FDA standards were discredited because the agency relied on industry information and ignored more than 100 independent studies.
Under orders from U.S. President Obama, the FDA is currently taking a fresh look at the issue and is expected to complete its review by the end of November [2009].
Meanwhile, the federal government is increasing funding for BPA research — $30 million in grants over the next two years — to expand scientific and medical knowledge about BPA, and to find answers consumers can trust.
November 11, 2009 — Return to cover.
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