A new study has found that exposure to bisphenol A (BPA), a controversial chemical commonly used to make plastics, increases a person's risk of developing heart disease later in life.
BPA is a building block of plastic that is in the epoxy resin used to line most cans, some plastic bottles that have a #7 recycling code as well as other hard plastic containers, older dental sealants, receipts, and receipts. There are concerns that BPA mimics estrogen in the body interfering with endocrine function and fetal development. Animal studies have found that exposure to BPA early in life may alter behavior and may increase the risk of cancer, diabetes, and heart disease.
For this study, which found an association between BPA exposure and heart disease, researchers gathered urinary BPA levels of healthy adults at the start of a large long-term population study in the U.K. After 10 years, 758 people developed heart disease. The study found that the subjects who developed heart disease had significantly higher levels of BPA in their urine at the start of the study than those who did not develop the disease.
For this study, which found an association between BPA exposure and heart disease, researchers gathered urinary BPA levels of healthy adults at the start of a large long-term population study in the U.K. After 10 years, 758 people developed heart disease. The study found that the subjects who developed heart disease had significantly higher levels of BPA in their urine at the start of the study than those who did not develop the disease.
The findings of another recent study emphasize just how much consumption of products that have been in contact with BPA can increase urinary BPA levels. Here, researchers fed 12 ounces of fresh or canned (Progresso) vegetarian soup to 75 people at lunch every day for five days. They found that several hours after lunch, compared to those who had fresh soup, those who consumed the canned soups had urinary BPA levels that were 12 times higher.
What to do: Scientists don’t yet know is BPA is truly harmful. In the meantime, to play it safe it may be wise to try to avoid BPA as much as possible, particularly among persons who are pregnant, breastfeeding, or under age 18. To minimize exposure avoid #7 plastics and use glass or stainless steel to store foods. Avoid freezing, microwaving, or dish washing plastics with BPA as these degrade the plastic allowing more BPA to leach into your foods. Choose drinks packaged in glass and instead of canned items, look for these products packaged in cartons, pouches, or as frozen items. There are also now some cans such as those used by Eden Organic that are made BPA free. Also, when possible, discard of receipts and try not to mix them in with groceries.
Adapted from article at: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_122396.html, report by Nutrition Action Healthletter Jan/Feb. 2012, and Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry, news release, Feb. 23, 2012.
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