BPA in womb linked to girls' behavioural problems
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A chemical used in plastic that is ubiquitous in the food and drink industries has been linked with emotional and behavioural problems in girls when they are exposed to it before birth.
Use of the chemical, bisphenol A (BPA), was banned in baby bottles last March by the European Commission, following a campaign by The Independent, because of concern it could cause breast cancer, fertility problems and other illnesses.
But research led by scientists at the Harvard School of Public Health suggests that move amounted to closing the stable door after the horse had bolted. They found the key exposure came earlier, during pregnancy, and mothers with the highest levels of BPA were more likely to have daughters with behavioural problems.
Among 244 mothers assessed with their children, increasing BPA concentrations in the mothers during pregnancy were associated with more hyperactive, aggressive, anxious, and depressed behaviour, and poorer emotional control and inhibition in the girls at the age of three.
BPA is found in many consumer products, including canned food linings, plastic bottles of fizzy drinks, mobile phones, and thermal paper till receipts. Most people living in industrialised nations are exposed to it. In the study, 85 per cent of the mothers and 96 per cent of the children showed evidence of BPA in their urine.
The results confirmed two previous studies showing exposure to BPA in the womb affected child behaviour, but were the first to show exposure before birth was more important than exposure during childhood. The study was funded by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and the US Environmental Protection Agency.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments