Harmful Compound Found in Many BPA-Free Bottles
Source: theepochtimes.com
A chemical found in many products labeled “BPA free” may produce many of the same health problems as the original chemical, including hyperactivity and cardiac arrhythmia, according to a pair of studies presented recently at the joint meeting of the International Society of Endocrinology and the Endocrine Society in Chicago.
“BPS, termed the safe alternative to BPA, may be equally as harmful to developing brains,” said Deborah Kurrasch of the University of Calgary, lead researcher of one of the studies. “Society must place increased pressure on decision makers to remove all bisphenol compounds from manufacturing processes.”‘Safer’ Alternative Not So Safe
Bisphenol A, or BPA, is a widely used chemical that is a known hormone disrupter and has been linked to health conditions as diverse as cancer, obesity, hyperactivity, and reproductive problems.
Growing concern over the health effects of BPA has led many manufacturers to introduce “BPA free” products. Yet many—although not all—of these products rely on a closely related chemical, bisphenol S (BPS).
“BPS is one of the substitutes used in BPA-free products,” said Hong-Sheng Wang of the University of Cincinnati, lead researcher of the second study. “There is implied safety in BPA-free products. The thing is, the BPA analogs—and BPS is one of them—have not been tested for safety in humans.”
Hormone Pathways Disrupted
In the first study, Kurrasch and her colleagues found that zebrafish that were exposed to BPS became hyperactive in a similar manner to those exposed to BPA.
The study was designed to simulate prenatal chemical exposure, such as would occur in pregnant women exposed to BPA or BPS. Researchers exposed zebrafish embryos to the same BPA concentrations found in Alberta’s Oldman River, a major drinking water source. They then counted how many neurons developed in the brain.
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Read the full article at: theepochtimes.com
