Heart Risk Could be Increased by BPA Exposure

High concentrations of the chemical Bisphenol-A (BPA) in the urine could indicate individuals are at a higher risk of heart disease later in life, according to the findings of new research. 

In a study published in last week’s edition of Circulation, the journal of the American Heart Association, British researchers indicate that their could be a link between heart disease and the chemical that is used in a number of consumer products.

Researchers looked at 758 incidents of coronary artery disease and 861 controls over nearly 11 years. They found that after they adjusted the results for a broad number of other potential factors, people who had higher concentrations of BPA in their urine were more likely to also have heart disease.

Additional studies are needed to establish a causal link and determine through what mechanism BPA could affect the heart, according to the researchers. However, the study adds to mounting concerns about the health risks of Bisphenol-A.

The chemical is used to make many plastic products hard and shatterproof. It is used in the manufacture of many consumer products, such as bottles, cups, can liners, baby products and other food containers. Because BPA is what is known as an endocrine disruptor, it can confuse the body’s hormones. In fact, it was originally designed as a form of synthetic estrogen before it was remarketed as a plastic liner that could preserve food.

Exposure to BPA has long been suspected of causing hormonal changes by impacting the human endocrine system. Some prior research has also suggested that BPA side effects can cause developmental abnormalities and other problems over time in infants and young children.

Earlier last month, two different studies linked bisphenol-A to diabetes and weight gain, raising questions about whether the ubiquitous chemical additive may be contributing to the obesity epidemic in the United States and throughout the world.