New Study Shows Bisphenol A (BPA) In Low Doses Can Affect The Reproductive And Nervous Systems

A new study conducted by the National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, studied the effects of bisphenol A (BPA) at varying doses on rats. From their findings, researchers recommend a lower limit for BPA, as low doses can affect the development of animals. The results of this study are particularly pertinent and disturbing as BPA can be found in many everyday consumer products.

Researchers examined the effects of BPA on rats exposed to varying doses, from low doses equivalent to what people may be exposed to, to higher doses, according to a release. Results show that even particularly low doses had an effect on the development of the animals. Female rats weighed more as adults, and behavior changed "in a direction that resembled male behaviour." Male rats exposed to the lowest dose had decreased sperm count as adults and increased growth of mammary gland tissue.

Results from the study support previous studies which show that particularly low BPA doses can affect development. The National Food Institute calculates the tolerable daily intake (TDI) for BPA to be 0.8 micrograms per kilogram of body weight in order to be sufficiently protected from the "endocrine disrupting effects." This recommendation is lower than that of the European Food Safety Authority, which set the TDI for BPA to 4 micrograms per kilogram body weight per day.

"The health risks of bisphenol A are especially of concern for highly exposed consumers. This applies in particular to pregnant or nursing women and children, who are especially sensitive to the adverse effects of bisphenol A that may occur at low exposure levels," says Ulla Hass, professor from the National Food Institute.

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