BPA linked to infant abnormalities

SEATTLE, May 14 (UPI) -- High bisphenol A levels in mothers is linked with neurobehavioral abnormalities in infants, U.S. researchers suggest.

Dr. Sheela Sathyanarayana of Seattle Children's Research Institute says food may be the single largest source of exposure to BPA -- a synthetic chemical used in can linings, hard polycarbonate plastics such as baby bottles, and reusable cups and dental sealants.

"Pregnant women are often exposed to BPA in their daily lives," Sathyanarayana says in a statement. "It's important that they are aware of the potential sources of BPA, so they can take steps to avoid unnecessary exposures."

Sathyanarayana and co-investigators reported on a specific mother/infant pair from a larger study that examined BPA exposures in pregnant women and then examined their infants for neurodevelopmental outcomes. At 27 weeks of pregnancy, the mother had the highest reported urinary BPA concentration of anyone in the general population.

The findings are published in Environmental Health Perspectives.