(Image:Kobiz Media)
DAEJEON, July 15 (Korea Bizwire) — A recent study has revealed that exposure to Bisphenol A (BPA), known as an endocrine disruptor, during pregnancy can damage the cognitive function of the infant’s brain as well as causing behavioral disorders.
The Korea Institute of Toxicology said Wednesday that it had identified through experiments on pregnant animals that exposure to BPA causes a toxic response, generating a negative impact on the creation and function of the brain’s neural cells (neurons).
The research team identified the toxic effects of BPA in the development stage of the infant’s brain through various experiments with pregnant rats.
The molecular biological test showed that exposure to BPA during pregnancy suppresses the creation of neurons in the infant’s brain, resulting in a decline in the number of such cells and the deterioration of synapse function.
The research team also assessed the impact of the BPA exposure on the activity of neural signals through an electrical-physiological study, and found that it slowed down the neurons’ signal transmission activity.
During the research team’s ethological study, it was observed that exposure to BPA created hyperactivity and short-stay responses in unfamiliar places, suggesting a possible link to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in adolescence.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
