Eight percent of the U.S. population is now asthmatic according to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology.
CBS News reports that a new study published on Friday in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology found a 40 percent increased risk of asthma in inner city children with the highest BPA levels at three, five and seven years of age. An astounding 25 percent of the children in the study were diagnosed with asthma.
Over twenty-five million Americans suffer from the disease that causes chest tightness, coughing, wheezing and other breathing difficulties. Studies suggest that America’s children are at great risk thanks to this chemical. Asthma is a disease that can certainly stick around for a lifetime and shouldn't be taken lightly.
Bisphenol A (BPA) is a chemical found in food packaging like cans, plastics such as tableware and other storage containers. Its purpose is to prevent corrosion caused by food. It is everywhere.
Excess exposure of this chemical has been linked to increased obesity risks in kids as well as heightened likelihood of heart disease, diabetes and kidney disease later in life.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration banned BPA from baby bottles and sippy cups as of the summer of 2012 but the agency stated that the evidence at the time did not suggest that exposure to the chemical was unsafe through diet.
There are some precautions people can take to try to avoid unnecessary BPA exposure that may help. Stay away from microwaving polycarbonate plastic food containers because polycarbonate may break down at high temperatures causing BPA to leach into foods. Make an effort to reduce consumption of canned foods and when possible opt for glass, porcelain or stainless steel containers, particularly for hot food or liquids.
"This is the first study to identify an association of childhood BPA exposure with the development of asthma," Dr. Leo Trasande, an associate professor of pediatrics and environmental medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center in New York City, told CBSNews.com in an email.
The study is published in the March issue of Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.
There are plenty of companies who are being proactive and have changed their packaging eliminating BPA completely. Look for the label that reads, "BPA free."
Comments