BPA May Cause Brain Tumors, New Research Finds

soda can

More bad news connected with the controversial chemical BPA (bisphenol-A) found in a variety of cans and plastics, including baby bottles. New research now suggests that it may be a contributing factor in developing a common type of brain cancer.

According to the study conducted at the Union Hospital in Wuhan, China and reported in Environmental Health News, individuals with the highest urine levels of BPA were 1.6 times more likely to develop a hormone related brain tumor called meningioma.

Researchers followed nearly 250 patients with the brain cancer and just as many with no history of cancer. While accounting for a variety of other risk factors, a notable association was present between the BPA concentrations in urine and the diagnosis of the tumors.

BPA is a known endocrine disruptor, which can affect a number of different functions in the body from reproductive health to maintaining an ideal body weight.  Exposure to endocrine disruptors, particularly for unborn babies, has also been linked to behavioral and developmental issues that may be passed on for several generations. Research has also linked it with increased levels of anxiety, depression and other mental disorders.

Several countries including Canada, France and China have banned or regulated BPA, which is commonly found in the lining of canned products, including sodas. Petitions to the FDA to ban BPA in the U.S. have been dismissed based on what the agency calls a lack of conclusive evidence that dangers exist, however, the agency has agreed to enforce the removal of BPA from infant formulas.

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Jill Ettinger
