Is Common Food Packaging Giving Children Autism?
The new study on BPA and why the evidence is “less than compelling”
Bisphenol A (BPA) is a perennial source of concern. It’s a common chemical that is used to manufacture a variety of plastic containers, some of which are used for food. There’s been a range of worries over the last few decades that BPA could be causing a range of negative health outcomes, because some portion of the chemical may leach into food, and that can get into your body when you eat the food.
This week, a new paper has come out that seems to confirm the worst fears about BPA. According to the headlines, the new study shows that boys exposed to BPA may be six times more likely to develop autism. Unsurprisingly, parents around the world are now terrified that their children may be getting poisoned by the BPA in their snack boxes and water bottles.
But the reality of the research is far more complex than the story you might’ve heard in the headlines. While this was a careful and interesting study, it’s not clear that the data shows a direct link between BPA and autism, and even if it does this is only for a very small subgroup of the population.
Let’s look at the science.
