This latest study—funded by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, and published in the journal Human Reproduction—found that workers in China who were exposed to significant amounts of BPA were about four times more likely to report reduced sexual desire, difficulty having an erection, and reduced satisfaction with their sex lives than unexposed workers. They were seven times more likely to have difficulty ejaculating. And the researchers found these effects were dose-related, so those with greater exposure were at higher risk.
Because the workers at the BPA facilities were exposed to relatively high doses of BPA, the researchers note that, "the findings from this study probably do not apply to populations that are exposed to low levels of BPA." Still, the study is the first piece of evidence that BPA exposure may have a negative impact on human male sexual health, they say, and that finding "increases the need to examine the health effects of BPA in both occupationally and environmentally exposed populations."
We agree, and we hope the FDA seriously reconsiders its safety levels for BPA while such research is conducted. Consumers Union believes that the use of BPA in all materials that come in contact with food should be eliminated. In the meantime, if you want to lower your exposure to BPA, here are a few simple steps:
—Kevin McCarthy, associate editor
For more on reducing your family's exposure to BPA and other harmful chemicals, see Plastic Worries. And you can keep up with news about BPA here, and at our Safety blog.
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