At the end of last month, we exposed you how endocrine disruptors (including Bisphenol A / BPA) can affect healthy hormonal development, despite the fact that all of their health effects are not studied.
Today we have known that the association between maternal exposure to BPA and a high risk of asthma in young children. The full research, conducted by professionals from the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University, and is published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. The lead author of the work is Kathleen Donohue, who tells us that the prevalence of asthma has increased dramatically in the last 30 years, as well as the implication of some environmental factors that have not yet been fully studied. After the study it is clarified that one of those factors could be the BPA.
Donohue and his collaborators have measured exposure to Bisphenol A by determining metabolites in urine. The population under study were 568 women in the third trimester of pregnancy, as well as their children at three, five and seven years.
The researchers found that after delivery, exposure to BPA was associated with an increased risk of wheezing and asthma.
Were detected detectable levels of BPA in more than 90% of children, which does not mean that they all develop asthma (as not all smokers end up having lung cancer). In fact, Dr. Donohue herself acknowledges that 'the biological mechanism behind the connection of BPA with asthma is unclear'.
It has been found that exposure to low doses of Bisphenol A during pregnancy was inversely associated with the risk of wheezing at five years, although previously the other factors involved in the development of asthma have been adjusted, among which is passive smoking, in order to focus solely on this component of some plastics.
In this study, no evidence has been found that after exposure, the immune system can develop antibodies to airborne allergens
The question that has not found an answer after the investigation is whether the innate immune system undergoes changes when the mother is exposed to this endocrine disruptor during pregnancy.
Prudence accompanies the experts who have conducted the studies, who take into account the importance of having a strong epidemiological research to provide health authorities with reliable data about BPA safety. However, Bisphenol A is not only related to respiratory problems, but also to obesity or behavioral problems (among other health problems).
Recall that the BPA has been banned as a component of bottles in the European Union (and other countries), but on the other hand this component is still present in hermetic containers, purchase tickets and composite dental fillings (among others).
As we can see, the relationship between Bisphenol A and different health problems addresses a controversial issue, although there are more and more studies that relate this and other endocrine disruptors to different conditions. Dr. Donohue and her collaborators recommend eat less canned food, and, when possible, choose glass, porcelain or stainless steel containers, especially to house hot and liquid foods.
Images | flourivoteza, oddharmonic More information | School of Public Health Mailman of Columbia University Peques and More | Asthma cases are increasing due to air toxicity
