BPA is a synthetic chemical used in a wide variety of products including: can linings; hard polycarbonate plastics such as baby bottles and reusable cups; and dental sealants.
Food may be the single largest source of BPA exposure due to contamination of foods during preparation and processing. The Seattle case arose from a study that examined BPA exposures in pregnant women and then examined their infants for neurodevelopmental outcomes.
At 27 weeks of pregnancy, the mother had the highest reported urinary BPA concentration of anyone in the general population. She reported consuming canned foods and beverages, and using and microwaving plastic food storage containers consistently during this pregnancy time period.
Her infant had a normal neurobehavioral exam at birth, but a month later, had many abnormalities, including tremors and abnormal movements. The child went on to have normal assessment from 1 to 5 years of age.
But Dr. Sheela Sathyanarayana, of Seattle Children's Research Institute, says the case highlights the need for medical providers to be aware of BPA, and counsel families on how to limit exposures.
BPA mimics the hormone estrogen. In animal studies, exposure to BPA early in life can lead to a variety of abnormalities in early development of the brain, behavior, prostate gland and breast tissues.
BPA exposure hasn't been widely studied in infants. In adults, increased exposure has been linked to changes in hormone concentrations, sperm quality, and endometriosis.
You may not be able to completely avoid BPA, but there are steps you can take to reduce your family's exposure to it:
Limit the amount of canned foods your family eats.
Rinse canned fruits and vegetables before eating. When possible, choose fresh fruits and vegetables instead.
Limit the amount of canned beverages your family drinks.
Avoid using plastic food and beverage storage containers with #7 on the bottom. If the recycling code is #7, then the plastic may contain BPA.
Avoid using plastic baby bottles with #7 on the bottom.
Decrease the use of all plastic food storage containers.
Avoid using plastic food storage containers to heat food in the microwave. (High temperatures increase the chance of food absorbing BPA.)
Use ceramic, glass, or other microwaveable dishes when heating food in the microwave.
Avoid canned infant formula. Instead, use powdered formula or liquid formula sold in plastic or glass containers.
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