Food packaging plastic can be a hazard to pregnant women
Preeclampsia (PE)
involves dangerously high blood pressure that develops during pregnancy. It
accounts for approximately 15% of all premature deliveries in the U.S. and is
one of the leading causes of maternal death worldwide.
Women who have had hypertensive disorders of pregnancy like preeclampsia are
also at higher risk of developing early coronary artery disease.
BPA, meanwhile, is an endocrine disruptor often found in products such
as processed food and food packaging, beverage
containers, baby bottles, and many other consumer products.
In a study published
last month [December 2024] in the Journal of Hazardous Materials,
researchers using mouse models found that BPA exposure impedes the uterine
preparation process essential for pregnancy, known as decidualization. During
this process, specialized cells from the outer layer of the developing embryo,
called trophoblasts, infiltrate the uterine lining to assist in forming the
placenta.
The study revealed that BPA exposure then triggers severe
pregnancy symptoms linked to preeclampsia by increasing a protein known
as CYP1B1. This protein speeds up the
breakdown of estrogen and progesterone and reduces concentrations of these
hormones, the researchers say.
Furthermore, the researchers observed that BPA exposure
reduced the expression of important hormone receptors (ERα and PGR) in uterine
tissue and their associated genes. These receptors are vital for regulating
growth, reproduction, and sustaining a pregnancy.
“BPA, being an endocrine disruptor, exerts its impact on biological systems by disrupting or interfering with hormone metabolism, secretion, transport, and binding,” the researchers say.
“In this study, we found that BPA exposure caused a decrease
in the concentrations of estrogen and progesterone, and reduced the expression
of the estrogen receptor Erα and its responsive genes, as well as the levels of
the progesterone receptor PGR and its responsive genes. This jeopardizes
decidualization and promotes the occurrence of PE.”
The study adds to mounting evidence that impaired uterine
development can lead to preeclampsia and that BPA, along with its substitutes—bisphenol F (BPF) and bisphenol S (BPS)—poses
health risks, particularly in pregnant people and their fetuses. Food and
beverages are considered the most significant source of human exposure to BPA,
and early exposure to bisphenol A may
increase the risk of developing conditions such as heart disease, stroke, type
2 diabetes, and obesity later in life, even in small doses.
While mouse models are not always reliable as predictors of
human disease in research, they share some biological and genetic similarities
with us. To investigate the effects of BPA on pregnancy, the researchers
exposed genetically identical mice to either no BPA or a high dose (100
mg/kg).
The mice that were exposed to BPA displayed pregnancy
symptoms consistent with preeclampsia, including high blood pressure
(hypertension) and protein in their urine (albuminuria). They also showed
signs of impaired uterine development, as well as abnormalities in their
kidneys and placenta, resulting in smaller placentas and fetuses compared to
controls.
To avoid BPA exposure, avoid plastic food containers and
do not microwave them. Also, reduce your use of canned foods, opting for glass,
porcelain or stainless steel containers, especially for hot foods or liquids.
Reference
Wang Z, An R, Zhang L, Li X, Zhang C. Exposure to bisphenol A
jeopardizes decidualization and consequently triggers preeclampsia by
up-regulating CYP1B1. Journal of Hazardous Materials.
2025;486:137032. doi:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.137032 [Abstract]
Related
Costa HE, Medeiros I, Mariana M, Cairrao E. Maternal–foetal effects of exposure to bisphenol A:
Outcomes and long-term consequences. MDPI. January 12, 2025.
Accessed January 13, 2025. https://doi.org/10.3390/app15020697
Pivonello C, Muscogiuri G, Nardone A, et al. Bisphenol A: An emerging threat
to female fertility – reproductive biology and endocrinology. BioMed
Central. March 14, 2020. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12958-019-0558-8
Ye Y, Tang Y, Xiong Y, Feng L, Li X. Bisphenol A exposure alters placentation and causes
preeclampsia-like features in pregnant mice involved in reprogramming of DNA
methylation of WNT2. FASEB J. 2019;33(2):2732-2742.
doi:10.1096/fj.201800934RRR
