Sunday Sept. 7, 2008 (foodconsumer.org) -- A new review suggests that adult exposure to bisphenol A, a common plastic ingredient may affect the brain, reproductive system and immune system in men and probably also in women.

The study was supported by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and others and published in the Aug-Sept 2008 issue of Reproductive Toxicology.

The reviewers went through 199 studies on the effect of low doses of BPA below 50 mg/kg/day in model animals and found many effects of BPA are similar to that of estrogens diethylstilbestrol and ethinylestradiol.

The potency of the effects is about 10 to 1000 times less than that of diethylstilbestrol or ethinylestradiol.

The researchers said " particular outcomes occur in response to low dose BPA exposure." and " We are confident that adult exposure to BPA affects the male reproductive tract, and that long lasting, organizational effects in response to developmental exposure to BPA occur in the brain, the male reproductive system, and metabolic processes."

They also believed that it is likely, but needs to be confirmed, that " adult exposure to BPA affects the brain, the female reproductive system and the immune system and that developmental effects occur in the female reproductive system."

The National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has reviewed the report and approved publication of the report.

Bisphenol A is commonly present in polycarbonated plastics, which are commonly used in food and beverage containers and epoxy resins.

Editor's note: This is a solid review and interested readers may read the full report for the details at http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?tool=pmcentrez&artid=2151845