BPA Exploratory Essay

Bisphenol-A (BPA) is all around us: in food containers, toys, baby bottles, dental products, CD/DVD discs, water bottles, register receipts, fax reports, newspapers, toilet paper and cereal boxes. BPA can cause cancer, behavioral problems, diabetes, ADHD and many other hormonal issues. 1 There is an increased risk of developing behavior problems when one is exposed to BPA at an early stage of life. As a parent, I am concerned about my children’s exposure to BPA. We tend to use plastic frequently as glass can break easily which is not safe for the children. Disposable containers and packaged food are convenient and readily available. 1 I searched on PubMed and Google scholar for peer reviewed articles related to BPA and its effects on children. The focus of this article will be to discuss some of the sources of BPA which children encounter and some examples of health risks children face due to BPA in the environment.

According to a study about prenatal exposure to BPA, it was seen that boys whose mothers were exposed to BPA during early stages of pregnancy became more anxious while girls

Food and Drug Administration (FDA) permits its use in food and beverage packaging, including the interior coating of metal cans and polycarbonate beverage containers like baby bottles. The FDA also permits BPA to be used for dental sealants and other medical devices. 6 Studies indicate that higher concentrations of BPA exposure in kids is due to higher air inhalation rates and higher consumption of food which has been exposed to BPA. Children usually consume ready to eat food which has the highest level of BPA like chicken soup and infant formula. Because of the packaging, convenience foods are among the highest in BPA levels. 7 Infant bottles, sippy cups and water bottles are also sources of BPA, which is claimed to be safe but BPA leaches during microwave use from these products and harms the