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BPA Found in 94% of Young Children's Urine
12 Mar
Summary
- 94.56% of infants and under-five children tested had BPA in urine.
- BPA is an endocrine-disrupting chemical with potential health risks.
- Exposure likely from multiple plastic sources, not just bottles.
A groundbreaking study from PGIMER has detected bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical used in plastic manufacturing, in the urine of 94.56% of infants and children under five years old. The research, which analyzed 184 urine samples from children aged 2 to 60 months in Chandigarh, revealed widespread early-life exposure to plastics and environmental sources.
BPA is a known endocrine-disrupting chemical, potentially interfering with the body's hormonal system and impacting child development, neurodevelopment, and metabolic health. While bottle-feeding was not a statistically significant risk factor, BPA was found in 93.9% of ever bottle-fed children and 95.3% of never bottle-fed children.
This pervasive presence suggests multiple exposure pathways, including plastic containers, packaged food, toys, and other household plastic items. The findings underscore an urgent need to understand and mitigate exposure to BPA and similar chemicals due to their potential long-term toxicity in young children.
