March 11, 2013 A ubiquitous chemical found in plastics, soup can
linings, and receipts, bisphenol-a is just one health-
compromising substance that has been under fire for many years.
While the scientific community has gathered ample evidence
regarding BPAs toxic effects, the chemical is still widely used
today. Adding to this evidence, recent research has found that
BPA could negatively impact brain development by disrupting a
gene responsible for proper nerve cell function. For the study,
which was published in the journal Proceedings of the National
Academy of Sciences and conducted by Duke University
researchers, it was discovered that BPA could negative effect
central nervous system development by disrupting a gene called
Kcc2. With the disruption of this gene, it can no longer
properly produce proteins partly responsible for removing
chloride from neurons. If chloride can’t be removed, then the
functioning of brain cells is hampered. “Our study found that
BPA may impair the development of the central ner