Bisphenol A Exposure May Increase Diabetes Risk: Study
New research suggests that people with high levels of the chemical Bisphenol-A (BPA) in their urine are at greater risk of having diabetes, raising further concerns about the safety of BPA in many consumer products.
Researchers from the West Virginia University School of Medicine found a correlation between levels of Bisphenol A exposure and diabetes, although they have been unable to find a causative link indicating that the diabetes was caused by the chemical.
Bisphenol A (BPA) is suspected of causing disruptions to the human endocrine system and developmental problems. The chemical is used in numerous plastic bottles and can liners and found in the urine of 95% of Americans.
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Learn MoreAccording to the study’s findings, people with the highest levels of BPA in their urine were 62% more likely to have diabetes than those with the lowest levels of BPA. The correlation still existed even after researchers accounted for a number of usual diabetes factors, such as body weight, age and race. However, researchers are unsure of how BPA would promote the development of diabetes.
The study looked at nearly 4,000 U.S. adults, using data from 2003-2008 National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey (NHANES). The researchers recommended more studies focused on finding a link and confirming their study’s conclusions.
Bisphenol-A is used to make many plastic products hard and shatterproof. Originally developed as a form of synthetic estrogen, it is used in the manufacture of many consumer products, such as bottles, cups, can liners, baby products and other food containers.
Exposure to BPA has long been suspected of causing hormonal changes by impacting the human endocrine system. It has also been linked to cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and obesity. Some prior research has also suggested that BPA side effects can cause developmental abnormalities and other problems over time in infants and young children.
Last year, the FDA recommended that parents take “reasonable steps” to reduce infant exposure to BPA. The federal regulatory agency is currently conducting a re-evaluation of the safety of BPA, after previously indicating that exposure to the levels used in consumer products is safe. The new review was initiated in June 2009 after the FDA received substantial criticism from outside groups, politicians and its own scientists.
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1 Comments
JamesOctober 24, 2011 at 5:58 pm
The negative effects of bisphenol-A on body weight, reproductive health, developing brains were published nearly 30 years ago! The corrupt, contemptible clown act known as the FDA continues its pretense as guardian of public health while it deflects, defuses, and muddles the truth. The complicit mainstream media CONTINUES to willingly misinform and bury critical information necessary for p[Show More]The negative effects of bisphenol-A on body weight, reproductive health, developing brains were published nearly 30 years ago! The corrupt, contemptible clown act known as the FDA continues its pretense as guardian of public health while it deflects, defuses, and muddles the truth. The complicit mainstream media CONTINUES to willingly misinform and bury critical information necessary for people to make informed choices. Yet it puts a high priority on nonsensical celebrity gossip and non-news so that people can be informed about Lindsay Lohan, Tim Tebow, or who was cut from Dancing with the Stars. People's only saving grace will be to find alternative news sources such as "infowars" in order to be better informed and to realize that in no way is the government capable of protecting our health.