RES: Harmful effect of bisphenol A (BPA) shown experimentally

Weak concentrations of bisphenol A are sufficient to produce a negative reaction on the human testicle. This has just been shown experimentally for the first time by René Habert and his colleagues in an article that appeared in the journal entitled PLoS One.

René Habert, Inserm researcher, spoke at a conference organised by the RES about the effects of EDCs on reproductive health. During the research, he and his team found that exposure of human fetal testicles to bisphenol A reduces the production of testosterone and of another testicular hormone that is necessary to ensure that the testicles to descend during fetal development.

More worryingly, a concentration equal to 2 micrograms per litre of bisphenol A in the culture medium was sufficient to produce these effects. This concentration is equal to the average concentration generally found in the blood, urine and amniotic fluid of the population.

More information available here

Originally posted on 7 February 2013