[Pharmwaste] Study links BPA exposure in womb to behavior problems in toddler girls

Hackel, Richard RHACKEL at idem.IN.gov
Fri Oct 28 12:35:59 EDT 2011


While the study cautio9ned about nutritional intake of the mothers, it did not comment on another potential explanation.

The summary here  states that  " ... mothers with high levels of bisphenol A (BPA) in their urine were more likely to report that their children were hyperactive, aggressive, anxious, depressed and less in control of their emotions than mothers with low levels of the chemical."  Then this links possible emotional issues among the daughters to the mother's BPA levels."

On the other hand, in addition to noting the possible nutritional deficiencies in the mothers it, the summary states that none of the childrens behavior was outside the normal range.

If the childrens' behavior was only based on the mothers' observations it would seem more likely that the higher BPA levels were affecting the mothers' observations, possibly making them less tolerant of behavioral variations.  Unless the mothers' observations were complimented with clinical analysis of the children, it is more logical to assume the BPA in the mothers' blood affected them rather than the children.  This is particularly true if the mothers BPA was measured while the children were 3 yrs old rather than during the pregnancy.  Higher BPA levels at the current time do not necessarily mean they were that high during pregnancy.

          Respectfully,
          Richard D Hackel, On Scene Coordinator
Indiana Department of Environmental Management
Office of Land, Compliance & Response Branch
Emergency Response Section
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Northern Regional Office
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rhackel at idem.in.gov<mailto:rhackel at idem.in.gov>

From: pharmwaste-bounces at lists.dep.state.fl.us [mailto:pharmwaste-bounces at lists.dep.state.fl.us] On Behalf Of DeBiasi, Deborah (DEQ)
Sent: Tuesday, October 25, 2011 11:17 AM
To: pharmwaste at lists.dep.state.fl.us
Subject: [Pharmwaste] Study links BPA exposure in womb to behavior problems in toddler girls

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/study-links-bpa-exposure-in-womb-to-behavior-problems-in-toddler-girls/2011/10/24/gIQA6ihRDM_story.html?wpisrc=nl_cuzheads

Study links BPA exposure in womb to behavior problems in toddler girls
By Dina ElBoghdady<http://www.washingtonpost.com/dina-elboghdady/2011/03/01/ABuq4sM_page.html>, Published: October 24

A chemical used widely in plastic bottles, metal cans and other consumer products could be linked to behavioral and emotional problems in toddler girls, according to a government-funded study published online Monday in the journal Pediatrics.

After tracking 244 Cincinnati-area mothers and their 3-year-olds, the study concluded that mothers with high levels of bisphenol A (BPA) in their urine were more likely to report that their children were hyperactive, aggressive, anxious, depressed and less in control of their emotions than mothers with low levels of the chemical.

While several studies have linked BPA to behavioral problems in children, this report is the first to suggest that a young girl's emotional well-being is linked to her mother's exposure during pregnancy rather than the child's exposure after birth. Girls were more sensitive to the chemical in the womb than boys, maybe because BPA mimics the female hormone estrogen, which is thought to play a role in behavioral development.

The results add to a growing body of research that suggests exposure to BPA poses health risks in humans. While the federal government has long maintained that low doses of BPA are safe, the Food and Drug Administration and other federal agencies are taking a closer look <http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/15/AR2010011504070.html> and investing in more research about the chemical's health effects.

In the Cincinnati study, the authors cautioned that their results could have been skewed by the eating habits of the mothers observed. For more than 40 years, BPA has been used to make plastic bottles and the lining of metal-based cans. It's possible that mothers who ate a lot of packaged foods simply didn't eat enough nutrients essential for brain development, said Joe M. Braun, the study's lead author.

None of the children exhibited behavior outside the normal range, said Braun, a research fellow at the Harvard School of Public Health. But they behaved worse than children whose mothers had relatively low traces of BPA in their urine, he said.

The results were based on urine samples from the mother (two during pregnancy and one at birth) and urine samples from their children taken at ages 1, 2 and 3. The mothers then filled out surveys about their children's behavior at age 3.

The American Chemistry Council, which represents the chemical industry, dismissed the study, saying it has "significant shortcomings" in design and its conclusions "are of unknown relevance to public health."

The group cited the study's small sample size as one drawback. Braun said it's difficult to conduct this type of research with a larger group.

Several experts who track the issue said they would like to see the study repeated with another group of children.

Linda Birnbaum, director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, said the sample size is reasonable and its results support studies that show similar effects in animals. The challenge with observational studies such as this one, she said, is that the effects are subtle and, therefore, tougher to tease out.

"These are not the kinds of effects that hit you over the head," Birnbaum said. "We're not looking for missing arms and legs."

Birnbaum's group and the Environmental Protection Agency funded the study.

Meanwhile, she said, the marketplace has spoken.

Due to consumer pressure, some companies have voluntarily removed the chemical from products<http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/22/AR2010022204830.html> or started offering BPA-free alternatives. A number of states and cities, including Maryland, have banned BPA in some children's products. France has taken action to prohibit BPA use in food packages altogether, but the ban has not yet taken effect.

Earlier this month, the American Chemistry Council petitioned the FDA to ban the use of the chemical<http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/04/25/AR2010042503408.html> in baby bottles and sippy cups. The group said the chemical hasn't been used in those products for years, but that the ban would help clear consumer confusion. The council maintains that BPA is safe.

(c) The Washington Post Company





Deborah L. DeBiasi
Email:   Deborah.DeBiasi at deq.virginia.gov
WEB site address:  www.deq.virginia.gov<http://www.deq.virginia.gov/>
Virginia Department of Environmental Quality
Office of Water Permit and Compliance Assistance Programs
Industrial Pretreatment/Whole Effluent Toxicity (WET) Program
PPCPs, EDCs, and Microconstituents
www.deq.virginia.gov/vpdes/microconstituents.html<http://www.deq.virginia.gov/vpdes/microconstituents.html>
3rd National DEA Drug Collection 10/29/2011, 10-2 pm
Go to www.dea.gov for site locations
Mail:          P.O. Box 1105, Richmond, VA  23218
Location:  629 E. Main Street, Richmond, VA  23219
PH:         804-698-4028      FAX:      804-698-4032

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