Prenatal Exposure to Bisphenol Linked to Higher Risk of Asthma

A study of almost 3,000 mother-child pairs from six European nations found that prenatal exposure to bisphenol A may have a deleterious impact on respiratory health in school-age girls.

The findings of a research undertaken by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), a non-profit organization financed by the "la Caixa" Foundation, were recently published in the journal Environment International.

Bisphenol A everywhere

(Photo : CHAIDEER MAHYUDDIN/AFP via Getty Images)

Bisphenols are chemical compounds that are utilized in the production of plastics and resins that are present in a wide range of consumer items such as food cans, reusable bottles, and toys.

Bisphenol A, is the most well-known endocrine disruptor. It is commonly employed in the construction of food containers and the inner coatings of such receivers.

In 2017, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) added BPA to its list of "extremely high concern" chemicals.

Since then, certain governments have restricted its usage, prompting some manufacturers to substitute alternative bisphenols for BPA, as per ScienceDaily.

Because it is recognized that bisphenols are prevalent in mother milk and may breach the placental barrier, the study's authors released today wanted to determine if children exposed to these chemical components is linked to respiratory health concerns later in life.

The authors examined urine samples collected during pregnancy from over 3,000 women in six European countries (Spain, France, Greece, Norway, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom) among 1999 and 2010.

Read more: BPA Exposure Linked to Autism

The effects of Bisphenol A to children

90% of the samples has been detected of the testing of urine tests indicated a significant prevalence of BPA.

However, the other bisphenols analyzed were less widespread at the time these specimens were taken.

The Netherlands was the only nation where a significant prevalence of additional bisphenols was discovered among survey respondents (bisphenol F in 40 percent of the samples and bisphenol S in 70 percent).

And the greater the concentration, the further probable it was that their female offspring would develop respiratory difficulties.

The study discovered that a twofold rise in BPA levels was associated with a 13% increased risk of respiratory illnesses such as asthma and wheeze in young females. as per Dailymail

The relationship, however, was not discovered for boys.

As per Barcelona Institute for Global Health's first author, Alicia Abellan, their results are consistent with prior study that indicated bisphenol A to be hazardous to children's lung health.

She also believes that the effect is related to the fact that bisphenols might breach the placental barrier and disrupt with the child's pulmonary and immune function throughout the developing stage.

Maribel Casas, ISGlobal researcher and last author of the report, points out that bisphenols are extremely toxic and can interact with sex hormones when discussing the disparities seen between girls and boys.

BPA has been proven to be present in breastmilk in addition to being able to pass the placenta.

The chemical is prohibited in Europe for use in infant bottles and plastic receipts, and France has gone so far as to prohibit its use in all food packaging, containers, and utensils.

Maribel Casas, who also collaborated on the study, said of the disparities between boys and girls, 'Bisphenols are endocrine disruptors and can conflict with sex hormones.'