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Chemical in food packaging may be linked to behavioural problems in girls

24 October 2011

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A chemical found in food and drink packaging, called bisphenol A (BPA), may be linked to behavioural problems in girls, according to a study published in the journal Pediatrics.

The researchers studied 244 pregnant women living in the USA. Urine samples were collected from the women twice during pregnancy at 16 weeks and 26 weeks, and then again 24 hours after the women had given birth. Further urine samples were also collected from the children at one, two and three years of age. When the children were aged three, the parents completed two questionnaires about their child’s behaviour.

Researchers found that pregnant women who had high levels of BPA in their urine were more likely to have daughters who were more anxious, prone to depression or hyperactive than those who had low levels of BPA. No such link was found among women who gave birth to boys.

BPA is a chemical commonly found in the lining of tin cans, plastic bottles and other food or drink packaging. The researchers suggest that BPA may affect how hormones and other chemicals in the brain work.

Dr Layla McCay, Assistant Medical Director, Bupa, commented: “It’s difficult to draw any firm conclusions from a small study such as this. There is still much research that needs to be done to determine if this chemical really has any effect on children’s behavioural development.

“This study only looked at a small number of mainly Caucasian pregnant women from Ohio in the USA. We therefore don’t know whether these results can be generalised to other populations. It’s also important to note that these behavioural problems were not clinically diagnosed by doctors – parents simply completed two questionnaires about their child’s behaviour.

“Considering that we don’t know if there is, in fact, a cause and effect in this study, the results are not clear enough to recommend any particular changes to how we package food or how this might affect women’s diet during pregnancy. What we do know is that maintaining a healthy diet during pregnancy is a great way to help keep mother and baby well.”

This study didn’t take into account many of the other factors relating to lifestyle that could have affected the results. The researchers also didn’t follow up the children as they got older, when many of these behavioural effects may not have been so obvious.

Key facts

  • Bisphenol A (BPA) is a chemical that has commonly been used in many hard plastic bottles and metal-based food and drink cans since the 1960s.
  • During pregnancy, stick to the usual healthy eating principles – aim to eat a diet that is low in fat, salt and sugar and high in fresh fruit and vegetables.
  • You should take a 400-microgram folic acid supplement every day from when you start trying to become pregnant until you’re 12 weeks’ pregnant. To help prevent iron deficiency, eat plenty of foods that are rich in iron. Red meat, fortified breakfast cereals and green leafy vegetables are all good sources of iron.
  • The Department of Health advises that if you’re pregnant, you should take supplements containing 10 micrograms of vitamin D each day to make sure you get enough.
  • Certain foods should be avoided when you’re pregnant. Examples include mould-ripened soft cheeses, pâté, raw shellfish, raw egg and unpasteurised milk.

How can we help you?

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Read the study

Braun JM, Kalkbrenner AE, Calafat AM, et al. Impact of Early-Life Bisphenol A Exposure on Behavior and Executive Function in Children. Pediatrics 2011; online first. www.pediatrics.aappublications.org

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