BPA in Plastics Linked to Sperm Problems The chemical BPA – used
in some plastics – may affect the sperm of men whose jobs
involve working with it. BPA, or bisphenol-A, can be found in
work settings where baby bottles, plastic containers, food and
beverage container linings, and dental sealants are made. BPA is
a component of the plastics that make up these items. Experts
say that exposure to BPA can cause a drop in sperm
concentration, count, vitality, quality, and movement. Testing a
high-risk group For five years, researchers funded by the
National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health studied 218
workers at Chinese factories that used BPA in production. As
part of the study, the men provided urine and semen samples. The
researchers found high levels of BPA in the urine of the men.
Men with BPA in their urine had more than three times the risk
for lowered sperm concentration and lower sperm vitality than
men who had no BPA in their urine, says De-Kun Li, M.D., at
Kaiser Permanente's Division of Resea