A new study published in the Oct 9 2008 issue of Archives of Toxicology suggests that exposure to bisphenol A may increase risk of breast cancer.

The study led by Yang M and colleagues from Sookmyung Women's University in Republic of Korea examined whether bisphenol A as an endocrine disrupting chemical affects the risk of breast cancer in Korean women.

The researchers tested blood samples from 167 breast cancer patients and controls, which had been stored for over 10 years for the serum level of bisphenol A.

They found an association between bisphenol A levels and risk of breast cancer among 152 age-matched women.   But they found the bisphenol A levels between the cases and the controls were not significantly different.

The authors suggest that further large bio-monitoring studies of bisphenol A to be carried out to examine the potential effect on breast cancer.

Bisphenol A is commonly used in plastic and epoxy resins for food containers like drinking water bottles and baby formula cans.

Breast cancer afflicts nearly 200,000 women in the U.S. and kills about 50,000 each year.