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INVISIBLE OVERLOAD > BPA
BPA
How Does a Plastic Chemical Imitate a Hormone?
BPA (short for Bisphenol A) is a chemical found in everyday plastics—like water bottles, food containers, and even the linings of metal cans. What makes BPA so concerning is that it can mimic the hormone estrogen in the human body.
How? Its molecular shape is close enough to estrogen that it can "fit" into estrogen receptors in our cells—like a copycat key slipping into a lock. When this happens, BPA can disrupt normal hormone function, sending the wrong signals or blocking the right ones.
That’s why BPA is called an endocrine disruptor—it confuses the body’s messaging system and can lead to a wide range of health effects over time.
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Its molecular shape is close enough to estrogen that it can "fit" into estrogen receptors in our cells.
BPA Exposure May Impact Heart and Metabolic Health
Heart and metabolic health: Even at low doses, BPA has been associated with cardiovascular problems. Research in humans has linked BPA exposure to an increased risk of high blood pressure, coronary heart disease, and other heart issues. BPA may also play a role in metabolic disorders – for example, it has been tied to insulin resistance, which is a precursor to type 2 diabetes, as well as to weight gain and obesity. In essence, BPA’s hormone-like activity might nudge the body toward conditions like heart disease and diabetes by disturbing how we regulate blood pressure, blood sugar, and fat storage.
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Fertility Frustrations?
Because BPA can mimic estrogen, it may disrupt normal reproductive hormones. In women, studies have found that BPA exposure can affect egg development and ovulation, potentially contributing to infertility. In men, high levels of BPA exposure (for example, in certain workplaces) have been linked to reduced fertility and sexual function – such as a higher risk of erectile dysfunction and lowered sexual desire.
Protecting Baby’s Brain Starts Early
BPA’s effects on brain development are particularly worrying during pregnancy and early childhood. Being exposed to BPA while in the womb or as a young child can impact how the brain develops. Studies in animals and lab models show that BPA can mess with brain formation and gene expression. For example, BPA exposure during pregnancy has been linked to changes in brain structure and disruptions in normal estrogen signaling. After birth, these changes can lead to behavioral shifts, with some studies linking prenatal BPA exposure to higher anxiety and differences in behavior. This suggests that even low levels of BPA, once considered safe, could still affect a child's brain development and behavior.
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From Cans to Receipts: Everyday Sources of BPA
SOURCES
BPA, Endocrine Disruption, and Related Health Concerns PubMed – An endocrine disruptor with widespread exposure and multiple effects https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21605673/ ScienceDirect – Endocrine disrupting effects of bisphenol A exposure and recent advances https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2468227619306969 ScienceDirect – Bisphenol A (BPA) and neurological disorders: An overview https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1357272524001067 National Institutes of Health (NIH) – Bisphenol A in Thermal Paper Receipts: An Opportunity for Risk Reduction https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3261950/ European Environment Agency (EEA) – Human exposure to Bisphenol A in Europe https://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/peoples-exposure-to-bisphenol-a Medical News Today – Bisphenol A: Hazards and sources https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/221205 Wikipedia – Health effects of Bisphenol A https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health_effects_of_Bisphenol_A European Environment Agency / Human exposure to Bisphenol A in Europe Mayo Clinic / What is BPA, and what are the concerns about BPA? State of New Jersey / BPA - Bisphenol A - possible effects during fetal development or on newborns NIH / Bisphenol A exposure and children's behavior: A systematic review EWG / BPA Coats Cash Register Receipts NIH / Concern about the Safety of Bisphenol A Substitutes Proposition / Bisphenol A (BPA) in Canned and Bottled Food and Drinks U OF M School of Public Health / Exposure to PFAS chemicals doubles the odds of a prior cancer diagnosis in women