Study Shows Prenatal Exposure to Plastic Bisphenol A May Make Girls More Aggressive

[steven johnson]

You might want to put down your bottled water to read this story. Bisphenol A is used to make hard, glasslike plastic containers for food and drink, such as clear Nalgene bottles and toddler sip cups. In 2007 38 scientists in a peer-reviewed journal (NTP CERHR MON. 2008 Sep;(22):i-III1) concluded that the chemical posed a significant risk. They expressed "some concern" that the chemical could cause behavioral and neurological problems in the developing fetus and young children. In 95 percent of people tested, bisphenol A is detected at levels that could be harmful, the scientists said.

http://www.seattlepi.com/local/326907_plastic09.html
http://cerhr.niehs.nih.gov/chemicals/bisphenol/BPADraftBriefVF_04_14_08.pdf

Low-dose exposure bisphenol A behavioral effects in rats: hyperactivity, increase in aggression, changes in response to painful or fear-provoking stimuli, impaired learning, reversal of normal sex differences in the brain structure and elimination of sex differences in behavior, decreased maternal behavior such as reductions in time spent nursing, increases in time resting away from offspring, and increased susceptibility to drug addiction.

http://www.environmentcalifornia.org/environmental-health/stop-toxic-toys/bisphenol-a-overview%20

Showing effects in the female infants of humans is not reassuring.

BPA (bisphenol A) concentrations were measured in the urine of the moms-to-be in their 16th and 26th weeks of pregnancy and soon after delivery.

When the children turned 2, the mothers completed a widely used behavior survey designed to assess their child's personality with emphasis on internalizing and externalizing behaviors.

Internalizing behaviors include being depressed, nervous, or withdrawn. Externalizing behaviors include aggression and hyperactivity.

Researchers concluded that the girls exposed to the highest levels of BPA earlier in pregnancy tended to exhibit more externalizing behaviors at age 2 than girls exposed to lower levels of the chemical.

Study Shows Prenatal Exposure to Plastic Chemical May Affect Kids' Behavior

[RC]

1. The good news is that when the oil runs out, we won't be using so much plastic either.