Another study has found a link between bisphenol A—BPA—and adverse health effects. This time, research using fish found that early BPA exposure may affect learning ability in adults.
BPA is a chemical found in hard plastics and the coatings of food and drinks cans which can behave in a similar way to estrogen and other hormones in the human body. BPA is used to make many products, including water bottles, baby bottles, dental fillings and sealants, dental devices, medical devices, eyeglass lenses, DVDs and CDs, household electronic and sports equipment. BPA can also be found in epoxy resins which is used as coatings inside food and drinks cans.
Although environmentalists are calling for the FDA to ban BPA usage. As of recent, the FDA has rejected their concerns and refused to call for a ban despite increasing concerns.
For the new study, UW-Milwaukee scientist Daniel Weber conducted tests with BPA and zebrafish and observed results similar to what he had seen when exposing zebrafish to the toxin mercury during early development, said Science Daily. The fish experienced “profound behavioral changes” immediately following hatching and in adulthood, said Weber. Adult fish exposed to very small amounts of BPA as embryos experienced learning and memory problems when compared to unexposed fish.
Tanguay’s lab plans on studying the molecular mechanism linking BPA to neurodevelopment interference; more behavioral research is also needed, said Weber.