Child Asthma Potentially Linked to BPA Exposure During Pregnancy
A recent study on mouse pups exposed to Bisphenol A yielded results that will certainly make every parent more wary of this already controversial chemical.
The findings suggest that mouse pups born to mothers who have been exposed to Bisphenol A developed allergic asthma.
Bisphenol A, also called BPA, is a chemical found in polycarbonate plastic bottles and in aluminum cans. It has been, and still is, a subject of debate in the medical industry. The controversy stemmed from increasing asthma rates 40 years ago, around the time when production of BPA started.
The latest research on BPA only involved mice, but experts still has reason to worry.
"They're using what are probably going to be reasonable estimates of human neonatal exposure, and that seems to have an effect on the developing immune system or sensitivity to asthma," said Dr. Steve Georas, chief of pulmonary and critical care medicine and director of the Mary Parkes Center for Asthma, Allergy and Pulmonary Care at the University of Rochester Medical Center in New York. "If you take it together with some epidemiologic studies, I would consider it cause for concern."
Millions of dollars have already pledged for long- and short-term research on the effects of BPA.
Over the years, it has negatively affected lab animals as well as people who have had occupational exposure.
Some states have banned the use of BPA in manufacturing feeding bottles and cups used by children under four years old.
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