Research has found that BPA affects neural circuits and behavior in rats and mice. Studies of humans have also found associations between prenatal BPA exposure and subsequent deviant problem scale scores on the CBCL (Perera et al., 2012). To test concurrent associations between BPA and both behavioral/emotional and learning problems in later childhood, Hong et al. (2013) obtained urine samples and parent-completed CBCLs and Learning Disability Evaluation Scales (LDES) for 1,008 Korean 8-11-year-olds. The children attended schools in five regions of Korea. The children’s ability levels were controlled by covarying scores on an individually administered short form of the Korean version of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC). Many demographic, perinatal, and family psychiatric variables were also controlled on the basis of data provided by parents. After controlling for many variables and the number of statistical tests, Hong et al. found that BPA levels were significantly associated with high scores on the CBCL Anxious/Depressed syndrome as well as with low scores on the Listening scale of the LDES. Although previous research has suggested that the estrogenic nature of BPA may have different effects on males versus females, Hong et al. found no significant interactions with the children’s gender. They concluded that their “findings suggest possible adverse impacts of BPA on childhood behavioral and learning development” (p. 897).
References:
Hong, S-B., Hong, Y-C., Kim, J-W., Park, E-J., Shin, M-S., Kim, B-N., Yoo, H-J., Cho, I-H., Behang, S-Y., & Cho, S-C. (2013) Bisphenol A in relation to behavior and learning of school-age children. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 54, 890-899.
Perera, F., Vishnevetsky, J., Herbstman, J.B., Calafat, A.M., Xiong, W., Rauh, V., & Wang, S. (2012). Prenatal bisphenol A exposure and child behavior in an inner-city cohort. Environmental Health Perspectives, 120, 1190-1194.