Fetal Exposure to Plastic Chemicals Increases Risk of Prostate Cancer Later, Study Confirms

Fetal exposure to organic chemical compound Bisphenol A (BPA), commonly used as lining in certain food and beverage packing, increases the risk of prostate cancer in males later, suggests a new finding.

Ample scientific evidence is there highlighting the health problems associated with prenatal exposure to the toxic chemical BPA present in canned food. Adding to this, researchers at the University of Illinois claim that fetal exposure to the plasticizers used in certain products like can liners and paper receipts doubles the risk for prostate cancer in later life.

BPA is found in a wide range of products ranging from canned foods, dental sealants, composites and plastics. The primary source of exposure to this carbon-based synthetic compound is through food. Humans are daily exposed to BPA through food and beverages. It is highly impossible to steer clear of the chemical.

An earlier study highlighted that exposure to BPA during pregnancy led to an increased risk of miscarriage. BPA also disrupts fetal development and triggers various diseases in later life including breast cancer.

The lead author of the paper, Gail Prins, professor of physiology at UIC, explains that studies conducted in the past revealed that people who consciously avoided exposure to the chemical present in plastics and other objects for almost a month or more, continued to have BPA in their urine samples.

 In rodent models the fetus exposure to BPA in utero resulted in almost 33 per cent of the stem cells showing signs of cancer or precancer lesion including prostate cancer. This is a major concern as the chemical imitated the hormone estrogen.

"Our research provides the first direct evidence that exposure to BPA during development, at the levels we see in our day-to-day lives, increases the risk for prostate cancer in human prostate tissue," Prins said. "The findings of adverse effects of BPA in human tissue are highly relevant and should encourage agencies like the Food & Drug Administration to re-evaluate their policies in the near future."

To examine the effect of BPA on human cells the researchers implanted human prostate cells into mice. To imitate the BPA exposure during the embryonic development, the mice were fed with BPA for two weeks following the implantation. The amount of BPA given to the mice was equal to the levels an average person ingests.

The tissues were left to mature for a month and the mice were given estrogen to mimic the natural estrogen levels present in men. Rise in estrogens levels is linked to prostate cancer.  After two-four months the tissue samples were retrieved and analyzed for the presence of prostate disease.

"We believe that BPA actually reprograms the stem cells to be more sensitive to estrogen throughout life, leading to a life-long increased susceptibility to diseases including cancer," Prins said.

This study was published in the journal Endocrinology.