The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health researchers have discovered a significant association between prenatal exposure to bisphenol A (BPA), a common plastic chemical, and autism in boys. The study, published in Nature Communications, found that higher BPA levels in pregnant women were linked to a higher likelihood of autism symptoms in their sons.
The research identified that BPA disrupts hormone-controlled male fetal brain development by silencing the enzyme aromatase, which is crucial for neurohormone regulation. Boys born to mothers with elevated BPA levels were 3.5 times more likely to show autism symptoms by age 2 and 6 times more likely to have a confirmed autism diagnosis by age 11.
Link to journal article: [https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-024-48897-8](https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-024-48897-8)
**YSK:** In Australia, BPA is not officially banned in thermal receipts, but companies like Coles, Woolworths, and Kmart have voluntarily moved away from using it. A friend of mine, who is a science wizard (now retired) explained that BPA can be [absorbed through the skin](https://academic.oup.com/annweh/article/65/2/206/6031581), especially when the skin is wet, moist, and warm. He also mentioned that handling thermal receipts after using hand sanitiser can significantly increase BPA transfer.
News article on the subject: [https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/the-receipts-you-touch-everyday-have-chemicals-in-them-how-dangerous-can-they-be/fdmk87wcg](https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/the-receipts-you-touch-everyday-have-chemicals-in-them-how-dangerous-can-they-be/fdmk87wcg)
BPA is banned in Europe and other parts of the world. Authorities are also considering banning BPS, an alternative to BPA.
Source: GaryTheGuineaPig
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And this one [The presence of bisphenol A in the thermal paper in the face of changing European regulations – A comparative global research](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0269749120320947) From 2020