We know that BPA (the chemical bisphenol A), which often lines plastic and metal containers, can, with excessive exposure, interfere with the body’s hormones and may increase obesity in kids. It also increases their risk of heart disease, kidney disease, and diabetes when they get older.

But a new study suggests there may be a connection between BPA and asthma, too.

Scientists looked at children who resided in areas with the highest BPA levels and found, over a period of years, that one in four children were diagnosed with asthma.

This study confirms an earlier one in which the urine of pregnant women that showed high levels of BPA often led to children becoming asthmatic.

Findings are still in the early stages—the study didn’t control for poor eating habits or exposure to smoking, which can affect asthma—but there is also a belief that children who are obese, which can cause asthma, may also be consuming more canned foods with high sodium and fat. Canned foods are high on the list of items that contain BPA.

BPA is enough of a concern that it’s been banned from baby bottles and removed from the lining of infant formula cans. Given all the products BPA is used in—including store receipts—ridding oneself of the chemical can be challenging.

But you can take proactive steps to decrease exposure to the chemical. See the box to the right.

SELECTED SOURCES

“10 Steps to Remove BPA from Your Body in Less Than a Week”, www.plasticsans.com

“BPA May Increase Asthma Risk in Kids, but Tough to Avoid” by Deborah Klotz, www.boston.com, 3/1/13

“EPA Finally Considers Investigating BPA” by Anthony Gucciardi, www.naturalnews.com, 8/16/11