Every week, the Scoop examines alarming new claims to help you make sense of the latest health research.
Some of the scariest news we’ve seen recently: Prenatal exposure to Bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical found in some plastics and cans, may affect the way cells function during brain and central nervous system development, according to a study recently published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
To mimic the effects of prenatal BPA exposure, researchers examined male and female mouse and human nerve cells and exposed them to the chemical. They found that BPA slowed the cells’ regulation of chloride levels—especially among female neurons, which appear to be more susceptible to the chemical.
These new findings join hundreds of studies that suggest BPA can seriously affect cells and systems in the body.
Other recent study results show intra-uterus exposure to BPA can predispose children to behavioral, cognitive, emotional, and social issues, resulting in autism or even a more severe version known as Rett Syndrome. BPA has also been linked to an increased risk of obesity, cancer, and recently, asthma.
“BPA isn’t lethal, but evidence of its harm is strong,” says Wolfgang Liedtke, MD, PhD, associate professor of medicine/neurology and neurobiology at Duke University and lead author of the PNAS study. Researchers still don’t know whether low amounts are just as harmful as high amounts, he says. It may be the case that BPA is like a light switch that turns off your genes—so more of it wouldn’t necessarily “turn off” more lights or do more damage.
It’s nearly impossible to keep your life a 100 percent BPA-free zone: The Food and Drug Administration permits BPA in food and beverage packaging without warning, and the chemical can be found in air, dust, water, medical devices, dental sealants, CDs, and more, according to the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.
You can, however, limit your exposure to BPA by shopping at a farmers market when possible, avoiding plastic containers, ditching canned food, and getting electronic copies of receipts (the paper ones have a BPA-based coasting).
The verdict: BPA does appear to have some scary side effects, but you could drive yourself crazy trying to prevent any sort of contact with the chemical. Do what you can to minimize your exposure—especially if you’re pregnant—but there’s no need to go overboard trying to avoid it altogether.
Additional reporting by Emily Main for Rodale.com
More from Women’s Health:
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Frankenfish and the World of Genetically Modified Food
Healthy Eating Plan for the Rest of Your Life
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