Most of us use plastic bottles to store and have water. From the coloured ones to recycled pepsi ones, plastic bottles are widely used to store and serve water. But a recent study shows some shocking facts that those plastic bottles could affect fertility!
According to a recent research on the effects of bisphenol A or BPA, a common component in plastic bottles, on a woman’s body found that the compound could damage developing ovaries.
The study by Jodi Flaws, at the University of Illinois, a few years ago was started out of curiosity. Although bisphenol was previously known to affect a woman’s fertility, the exact method of its working was not known. Therefore Dr Flaws started experimenting and found that use of plastic slows down production of an essential sex hormone essential for normal reproductive development.
BPA was found to be responsible for hampering the production of such hormones. Another study also found that after a period of time mice stop producing viable eggs at an abnormally young age.
Shockingly this research found that BPA had the same effect on many animals including mammals like sheep, monkeys and humans.
What is BPA and how it harms us?
BPA or bisphenol A, was discovered in the late 19th century, and is widely used in the production of polycarbonate plastics, thermal coatings, etc. which are commonly found in plastic water bottles, cash register receipts and protective linings in cans and pipes. In the US the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) has banned its use in the manufacturing of baby products like bottles. But, this compound is still commonly used in various other products.
BPA interferes with enzymes essential in the production of estradiol, the sex hormone essential for normal reproductive development. Research also says it might lead to a shorter reproductive life span.
