You started your day with a to-go coffee, heated up leftovers in a plastic container, and grabbed a receipt at the store. Without realizing it, you’ve been exposed to BPA (bisphenol-A) at least three times before noon. Disrupting these hormones could have wide-ranging effects.
BPA’s interference with reproductive hormones may contribute to infertility, menstrual irregularities, and lower sperm quality. Meanwhile, its impact on leptin could lead to increased appetite and a higher risk of obesity. Frederick vom Saal, a professor of biological sciences at the University of Missouri-Columbia, said that BPA also alters enzymes responsible for the production of reproductive hormones, leading to increased estradiol (a form of estrogen) and decreased testosterone production in animal studies, disrupting the natural balance of hormones.
On a more fundamental level, BPA can further change how genes work by turning certain genes on or off. This may increase the risk of obesity, Type 2 diabetes, and some cancers by interfering with fat storage, insulin regulation, and cell growth. These changes could also make cancer-related genes more active or suppress protective ones, potentially raising the risk of breast and prostate cancer.
Some people may be more sensitive to BPA due to factors like genetics, age, or existing health conditions. BPA is used to produce polycarbonate plastics in hard plastic bottles and food storage containers—as well as the resins that line most metal food can.
