Bisphenol-A, casually known as BPA, is a plastics chemical that has gotten much attention in recent years for its suspected harmful effects on health. Many plastic water bottles, can linings, baby bottles and other products contain BPA, and for the first time, research has shown that BPA has negative effects on the intestines.
A study published in
the Proceedings of the National Academy Sciences Journal showed BPA causes damage to the intestines, the first organ BPA meets after ingestion. According to the research, when rats were exposed to doses of BPA that were 10 times less than the amount thought to be safe for humans, their intestinal linings were damaged. The researchers are from the National Institute of Agronomic Research in Toulouse, France,
This damage, known as poor
intestinal permeability or leaky gut syndrome, makes it more difficult
for water and other nutrients to be absorbed by the body. In addition, infant rats who were exposed to BPA while in the uterus and through feeding had increased risks of having intestinal inflammation as adults. Inflammation can make it easier for harmful substances,
such as bacteria,
In the face of suspicions about BPA's harmful impact, Sens. Charles Schumer and Kristen Gillibrand, both of New York, are calling for the elimination of BPA from all container linings that hold foods for infants and toddlers in
he BPA-Free Kids Act,
BPA is thought to act like the
hormone estrogen when it enters the body, possibly negatively impacting
reproductive and neural development, according to the Medical News
BPA is used in many other products, including CDs, DVDs and glasses lenses, and also makes plastics clear and resistant to breaks.
The federal guideline right now is 50 micrograms of BPA per kilogram of body weight, according to Medical News Today,
However, many manufacturers and lawmakers have taken steps to eliminate BPA from their products. In June 2008, Canada outlawed the use of BPA in creating plastic baby bottles, according to Medical News Today, and in May, six manufacturers of plastic baby bottles stopped using BPA in their products. And as of Jan. 1,
Minnesota outlawed the use of BPA in baby bottles and sippy cups for babies and young children, according to DailyFinance.