BPA may be harmful to toddler girls

A widely used chemical found in plastic bottles, metal cans, and a whole host of other consumer products could be linked to behavioral and emotional problems in toddler girls. Results of the study were published on Monday in the online edition of the journal Pediatrics. The study was funded by the government.

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - The study was conducted in the Cincinnati area and tracked 244 mothers and their three-year-old daughters. They concluded that mothers who have high levels of biphenyl A (BPA) in their urine were more likely to say their children were hyperactive, aggressive, anxious, depressed, or otherwise less in control of their emotions that mothers with low levels of the chemical.

The chemical BPA has already been linked to behavioral problems in children, but this study is the first to suggest that toddler girls can suffer emotional impairment as a result of it. It's believed that the mother's exposure during pregnancy rather than the exposure after birth, has the greatest impact. Researchers have found that BPA shares some similarity to the female hormone estrogen, and consequently can have a substantial impact on the development of the unborn baby.

The latest research is yet one more report that suggests exposure to BPA is bad for humans. Although the FDA has previously ruled that low doses of BPA are safe, they're beginning to reevaluate that position.

The chemical BPA has been used for more than 40 years to make plastic bottles and the lining of metal-based cans.

While the presence of the chemical was linked to reported behavioral issues in the children, researchers stressed that none of the children showed behaviors that exceeded normal ranges. The results of the study were based on urine samples taken from both the mothers and their daughters. The mothers gave two urine samples during pregnancy and one at birth. Urine samples were then taken from children at ages one, two, and three. Mothers completed surveys about their children after they turned three.

The chemistry industry, as represented by the American Chemistry Council, has already dismissed the study. The group argues that the study has significant shortcomings in its design and that its conclusions, "are of unknown relevance to public health." They pointed out the small sample size of the group as a reason to dismiss the findings.

While the long-term effects of BPA remained relatively unknown, it is becoming increasingly clear that the chemical has some effect on human health and development. At a minimum, further research is well warranted and will likely be conducted.

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