Workplace BPA Exposure Increases Risk of Male Sexual Dysfunction, Kaiser Permanente Study Finds

Workplace BPA Exposure Increases Risk of Male Sexual Dysfunction, Kaiser
Permanente Study Finds
First human study to measure effects of BPA on male reproductive system

OAKLAND, Calif., Nov. 11 /PRNewswire/ -- High levels of workplace exposure to
Bisphenol-A may increase the risk of reduced sexual function in men, according
to a Kaiser Permanente study appearing online in the journal Human
Reproduction, published by Oxford Journals.[1]

The five-year study examined 634 workers in factories in China, comparing
workers in BPA manufacturing facilities with a control group of workers in
factories where no BPA was present. The study found that the workers in the
BPA facilities had quadruple the risk of erectile dysfunction, and seven times
more risk of ejaculation difficulty.

This is the first research study to look at the effect of BPA on the male
reproductive system in humans. Previous animal studies have shown that BPA has
a detrimental effect on male reproductive system in mice and rats.

Funded by the U.S. National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, this
study adds to the body of evidence questioning the safety of BPA, a chemical
made in the production of polycarbonated plastics and epoxy resins found in
baby bottles, plastic containers, the lining of cans used for food and
beverages, and in dental sealants.

The BPA levels experienced by the exposed factory workers in the study were 50
times higher than what the average American male faces in the United States,
the researchers said.

"Because the BPA levels in this study were very high, more research needs to
be done to see how low a level of BPA exposure may have effects on our
reproductive system," said the study's lead author De-Kun Li, MD, Ph.D., a
reproductive and perinatal epidemiologist at Kaiser Permanente's Division of
Research in Oakland, Calif. "This study raises the question: Is there a safe
level for BPA exposure, and what is that level? More studies like this, which
examine the effect of BPA on humans, are critically needed to help establish
prevention strategies and regulatory policies."

The researchers explained that BPA is believed by some to be a highly suspect
human endocrine disrupter, likely affecting both male and female reproductive
systems. This first epidemiological study of BPA effects on the male
reproductive system provides evidence that has been lacking as the U.S. Food
and Drug Administration, and various U.S. government panels have explored this
controversial topic.

This study is the first in a series to be published by Dr. Li and his
colleagues that examine the effects of BPA in humans.

The study finding, Dr. Li also points out, may have implications of adverse
BPA effects beyond male sexual dysfunction. Male sexual dysfunction could be
a more sensitive early indicator for adverse BPA effects than other disease
endpoints that are more difficult to study, such as cancer or metabolic
diseases.

For this study, researchers compared 230 workers exposed to high levels of BPA
in their jobs as packagers, technical supervisors, laboratory technicians and
maintenance workers in one BPA manufacturing facility and three facilities
using BPA to manufacture epoxy resin, in several regions near Shanghai, to a
control group of 404 workers in the same city from factories where no BPA
exposure in the workplace was recorded. The factories with no BPA exposure
produced construction materials, water supplies, machinery, garments,
textiles, and electronics. The workers from the two groups were matched by
age, education, gender, and employment history.

Researchers gauged BPA levels by conducting spot air sampling, personal air
sample monitoring and walk-through evaluations, by reviewing factory records
and interviewing factory leaders and workers about personal hygiene habits,
use of protective equipment, and exposures to other chemicals. A subset of
workers also provided urine samples for assaying urine BPA level to confirm
the higher BPA exposure level among the workers with occupational BPA
exposure.

Researchers measured sexual function based on in-person interviews using a
standard male sexual function inventory that measures four categories of male
sexual function including erectile function, ejaculation capability, sexual
desire, and overall satisfaction with sex life.

After adjusting for age, education, marital status, current smoking status, a
history of chronic diseases and exposure to other chemicals, and employment
history, the researchers found the BPA-exposed workers had a significantly
higher risk of sexual dysfunction compared to the unexposed workers.

The BPA-exposed workers had a nearly four-fold increased risk of reduced
sexual desire and overall satisfaction with their sex life, greater than
four-fold increased risk of erection difficulty, and more than seven-fold
increased risk of ejaculation difficulty.

A dose-response relationship was observed with an increasing level of
cumulative BPA exposure associated with a higher risk of sexual dysfunction.
Furthermore, compared to the unexposed workers, BPA-exposed workers reported
significantly higher frequencies of reduced sexual function within one year of
employment in the BPA-exposed factories.

Other authors on this study include: X. Weng, Ph.D., J.R. Ferber, MPH, and
L.J. Herrinton of the Kaiser Permanente Division of Research; Z. Zhou, Ph.D.,
MD, Y. He, Ph.D., and T. Wu MD, Ph.D. of the Department of Occupational Health
and Toxicology, School of Public Health & WHO Collaborating Center for
Occupational Health, Fudan University, Shanghai, China; D. Qing, , M. Miao,
PhD, J. Wang, Ph.D, Q. Zhu, MD, E. Gao, MD, MPH, Ph.D., and W. Yuan of
Shanghai Institute of Planned Parenthood Research and National Population &
Family Planning Key Laboratory of Contraceptive Drugs and Devices; and H.
Checkoway, Ph.D. of Department of Environmental Health, University of
Washington, Seattle.

Notes

[1] Occupational exposure to bisphenol-A (BPA) and the risk of self-reported
male sexual dysfunction. Human Reproduction journal. doi:10.1093/humrep/dep381

Link to the study itself: http://www.oxfordjournals.org/news/dep381.pdf

About the Kaiser Permanente Division of Research (http://www.dor.kaiser.org/)
The Kaiser Permanente Division of Research conducts, publishes, and
disseminates epidemiologic and health services research to improve the health
and medical care of Kaiser Permanente members and the society at large. It
seeks to understand the determinants of illness and well-being and to improve
the quality and cost-effectiveness of health care. Currently, DOR's 400-plus
staff is working on more than 250 epidemiological and health services research
projects.

About Kaiser Permanente
Kaiser Permanente is committed to helping shape the future of health care. We
are recognized as one of America's leading health care providers and
not-for-profit health plans. Founded in 1945, our mission is to provide
high-quality, affordable health care services to improve the health of our
members and the communities we serve. We currently serve 8.6 million members
in nine states and the District of Columbia. Care for members and patients is
focused on their total health and guided by their personal physicians,
specialists and team of caregivers. Our expert and caring medical teams are
empowered and supported by industry-leading technology advances and tools for
health promotion, disease prevention, state-of-the art care delivery and
world-class chronic disease management. Kaiser Permanente is dedicated to care
innovations, clinical research, health education and the support of community
health. For more information, go to: www.kp.org/newscenter.

http://www.kaiserpermanente.org

For more information:
Danielle Cass, danielle.x.cass@kp.org, 510 267 5354
Maureen McInaney, Maureen.McInaney@kp.org, 510 891 3173
Emily Schwartz, eschwartz@golinharris.com, 415 274 7926

SOURCE Kaiser Permanente

Danielle Cass, +1-510-267-5354, danielle.x.cass@kp.org, or Maureen McInaney,
+1-510-891-3173, Maureen.McInaney@kp.org, both of Kaiser Permanente; or Emily
Schwartz, +1-415-274-7926, eschwartz@golinharris.com, for Kaiser Permanente