BPA Linked to Premature Babies
Researchers at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston have found that higher concentrations of BPA in a pregnant woman’s system could increase her chances for a premature birth (prenatal exposure to BPA has also been associated with lung complications and behavioral issues), and nearly all women have had some level of BPA exposure. BPA is the chemical found in the coatings of various food containers and is consumed when the chemical is released into the food during heating.
Looking at blood samples from pregnant women who were admitted to hospital for delivery, as well as amniotic fluid from the fetuses, they found that women who had higher levels of BPA in their bloodstream were more likely to have a preterm birth than women who recorded lower levels. The team published their study in The Journal of Maternal-Fetal & Neonatal Medicine.
Some believe that BPA can cause abnormal inflammation which can contribute to problems during pregnancy. In the last few years, the medical community has really begun to understand that exposure to industrial chemicals, which are more widely used than some people understand– it’s in EVERYTHING– start looking into everything in your home, may increase problems in pregnancy.
As the researchers’ study size was small, more research needs to be done.
Source: Time
