Bisphenol A, or BPA, is a chemical commonly used by industry in the manufacture of plastics. Originally developed as a synthetic version of the female hormone estrogen, it is now found in everything from baby bottles to plastic water bottles to lining on the inside of cans. In fact, BPA exposure is now so widespread that it was found in over 93% of urine samples in a 2004 Centers for Disease Control (CDC) study.
A recent study directly links BPA exposure to erectile dysfunction and other sexual problems in men. The study, conducted from 2004 until early 2009, studied over 600 men who were exposed to high levels of BPA at their jobs and a control group that was not exposed to BPA.
The men who were exposed to BPA were four times as likely to experience erectile dysfunction and seven times as likely to have trouble ejaculating.
The study, which was published in the journal Human Reproduction, is the first to examine the effects of BPA on the reproductive systems of human males. The federal government is increasing funding for BPA research to expand scientific and medical knowledge about BPA, and to find answers consumers can trust. The government is expected to spend over $30 million over the next two years studying the effects of BPA on early childhood sexual development and sexual function in men.
Although it is currently impossible to completely avoid BPA, there are some steps consumers can take to minimize exposure. Switching to glass or metal containers without plastic liners, looking for BPA free plastics, not heating microwavable food in polycarbonate containers, and reducing or eliminating consumption of bottled water can reduce BPA exposure.
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