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BPA-like Chemicals Cases Damage to Brain Cells

Recent research shows that BPA creates health effects in humans and its substitutes might also not be safe for humans.  A new study has examined how these compounds affect nerve cells in the adult brain. The authors find that they likely permanently disrupt signal transmission, and also interfere with neural circuits involved in perception. The research was published in the journal Communications Biology

BPA is a chemical that is used in food, beverage and other types of packaging for decades, but experts have grown increasingly concerned that it can leech into these consumables and impact human health in ways ranging from endocrine dysfunction to cancer. Scientists in the 1990s found substitutes to replace this chemical packaging substance.

One of the substitutes is bisphenol-A. It allows plastic manufacturers to punch a BPA-free label on their packaging, more and more research is demonstrating that it mightn’t be much better for us. A study last year showed through experiments on mice that just like BPA, Bisphenol A  can alter the expression of genes in the placenta and can damage fetal brain development.

Scientists from the University of Bayreuth conducted an electrophysiological study on the nerve cells of goldfish that were subjected to both BPA and Bisphenol A over one month. These experiments focused on the two largest nerve cells in the fish brain, the Mauthner cells, which are involved in the processing of all sensory stimuli and help the vertebrates escape predators.Dr Peter Machnik, the study author said that the findings obtained through studies on fish brains justify the assessment that BPA and BPS can damage the brains of adult humans. Science and industry must develop new plasticisers to replace these bisphenols while being safe for human health.

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