A recent study revealed that exposure in the womb to bisphenol A, more commonly known as BPA, increases asthma risks among school-age girls.
The American Chemistry Council, which represents the chemical industry, downplayed the study results, saying that the study cannot establish a causal relationship between BPA and childhood asthma or wheeze, CTVNews reported.
Study on over 3,000 pairs of mothers and children
The study collected urine samples from pregnant women between 1999 and 2010 when BPA was commonly used. According to the results, BPA was found in 90% of maternal urine samples were taken during pregnancy.
The children born to the same mothers had their lungs tested by spirometry at ages seven and 11. The mothers also filled out the questionnaire on their child's wheezing and lung function.
Of the several bisphenols analyzed, BPA was the only one associated with respiratory such as asthma and wheezing during elementary years. According to Science Daily, the study was led by Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal) and was published in the Environment International.
Alicia Abellán, a postdoctoral researcher at Barcelona Institute for Global Health and the study's first author, said that the effect might be because bisphenols can cross the placental barrier. BPA then interferes at the developmental phase of a child's respiratory and immune systems.
Dr. Leonardo Trasande, director of environmental pediatrics at NYU Langone Health, said researchers explained the study as BPA is a synthetic estrogen and sex hormones shape almost all bodily function during fetal development. The presence of exogenous estrogen-like BPA then contributes to inflammation and disruption of immune function, CNN reported.
According to Maricel Maffini, a biological scientist, the result is quite significant. It aligns with the latest European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) reevaluation of the risk of public health related to BPA exposures.
The researchers examined bisphenol F and bisphenol S, which manufacturers sell as "BPA-free." However, the study found extremely low levels of BPF and BPS in urine samples and could not find a direct correlation with respiratory outcomes.
BPA is found in can linings and thermal papers
BPA is a known endocrine disruptor, and it can change the hormones in the body.
It has been linked to fetal abnormalities, low birth weight, and brain and behavior disorders in infants and children. It has also been linked to diabetes, heart disease, cancer, obesity, and erectile dysfunction.
Since the 1950s, bisphenol A can be found in beverage containers, canned good lining, dental sealants, and toys. Manufacturers commonly used it to create baby bottles, sippy cups, and infant formula containers. A decade ago, concerned parents boycotted these products, and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) responded with a ban on BPA in baby bottles and sippy cups. In 2013, the FDA also banned BPA in infant formula packaging.
However, BPA is still being used in other food products, saying that the available information supports the safety of the food containers and packaging.
