Bisphenol A and Neurological Disorders: From Exposure to Preventive Interventions

Massive use of man-made chemicals has brought a lot of significant alterations in our environment as a whole. Among them, Bisphenol-A (BPA) is the most commonly used in the manufacturing of synthetic polycarbonates, plastics, thermal paper and epoxy resin. BPA is majorly found in the surroundings of human and particularly in drinking water. There is a lot of data and research studies which provide detailed data concerning the presence of BPA in water, food and indoor environment as well as in fluid and tissues of human body. The outcomes of BPA exposure on human behavior are relatively new issue and it has also become a special concern due to its potential effects on children. Although little data is available related to neurological disorders to BPA exposure, an association between BPA exposure with altered neurobehavior has been reported, including attention deficit, aggressive behavior, depression, hyperactivity and anxiety in children. It has been observed that BPA exposure during the critical window of development in children causes disruption of brain. Previous studies suggested that prenatal exposure of BPA may have negative impact on neurobehavioral functioning in children and it may be sex dependent. Therefore, it has become necessary to be watchful towards the potential adverse effects of pervasive exposure of low doses, although more studies are required in humans to rule out the correlation between exposure of BPA and its outcomes on humans. Meanwhile, it is prudent to inform and educate the women who are planning or undergoing pregnancy about the outcomes of BPA exposure and measures to avoid and reduce their exposure. The main objective of this chapter is to explore and summarize the neurological effects of BPA exposure, and from a public health perspective, preventive measures and policies have also been discussed.