BPA continues to make headlines with a new study linking genetic changes to altered brain development in children. This announcement was made in a press release (DukeHealth.org) and published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences on Feb. 25, 2013.
Environmental exposure to bisphenol A, a chemical widely used in plastics and resins, may suppress a gene vital to nerve cell function in the development of the central nervous system. This effect was observed in cortical neurons of mice, rats and humans. By mimicking the hormone estrogen, it interferes with the body's endocrine system predisposing animals and humans to neurodevelopmental disorders.
While much needs to be understood it is thought that exposing neurons to minute amounts of BPA alters the chloride levels inside the cells by somehow shutting down the Kcc2 gene which makes the KCC2 protein. This delay in the removal of chloride from neurons causes Rett syndrome, a severe autism spectrum disorder found only in females.
BPA may readily be analyzed in various food products using a QuEChERS procedure developed by UCT. Download a copy of “Modified QuEChERS Procedure for Analysis of Bisphenol A in Canned Food Products” DCN-119270-225
No comments:
Post a Comment