To explore developmental neurotoxicity of environmental bisphenol A (BPA) exposure for infants and children, rats were exposed to differing levels of BPA during early life were tested to determine if BPA inhibited brain development.  Researchers observed that both the lowest and highest exposed groups needed more frequent ‘lessons’ and longer times to learn than the control group which was not exposed to BPA.

Additionally, 5-HT levels were decreased (this is a precursor to serotonin) in both sexes and male rats also experienced a decrease in the neurotransmitter (NT) GABA and an increase in glutamic acid and acetylcholine. GABA is an inhibitory NT that produces feelings of calm and relaxation. Glutamic acid and acetylcholine are an important part of brain plasticity and learning/memory. Learning and memory disruption is also seen in primate studies.

We can’t translate rats to humans, but we also cannot be intentionally exposing human infants to specific doses of a known pollutant to ascertain certainty.  However, initial observational research shows that human children are likely impacted. 

Because chronic low doses are as impactful as high doses you don’t have to be living near a plastic plant to be concerned. Every day exposure is enough to cause problems, and research is loaded with multiple associations observed in conjunction with everyday exposure such as infertility, behavior and memory issues, hormonal disruption, and even estrogen-related cancers.

Where do we get exposed to ingesting BPA?

• • canned foods
  • Foods wrapped in plastic
  • printed receipts
  • feminine hygiene products
  • dental filling sealants
  • takeout coffee cups
  • Plastic Bulk bins

Eliminating chronic plastic exposure is a challenge. Clearing your home of plastics and bringing your own glass or metal containers for food and beverage can reduce exposure significantly. While BPA-free products are on the rise, this doesn’t mean any other plastic is safer. Assume it is not. Other plasticizers are linked with hormonal disruption and any new plastic they come out with will have unknown effect for decades as there is no requirement for long-term safety testing with these chemicals. Eliminating plastic from our lives is a years’ long process, so be patient and consistent and you will make a significant dent in your exposure.

Additionally, a diet high in vegetables (you knew I would get here eventually) will provide you with valuable fiber to facilitate the excretion of these compounds and prevent them from being reabsorbed and stored in the body. Polyphenols, a class of numerous plant compounds found in veggies, fruits, herbs, and spices, may actually reduce the damaging effects of multiple plastic compounds by reducing DNA damage and cellular stress.

A healthy diet rich with adequate protein and abundant in produce will be the best diet to support the body’s ability to detoxify and eliminate not just BPA, but other toxicants as well. Saunas and exercise, which increase sweating, may also be a route of BPA elimination. While the number of chemicals we are exposed to continues to rise, our lifestyle can give our system the best chances to reduce impact. Additionally, genetic testing to assess whether or not there are specific detoxification enzymes which are inhibited may provide additional information as to how you can specifically optimize your ability to breakdown and eliminate pollutants and toxicants.

Zhang, H., Kuang, H., Luo, Y., Liu, S., Meng, L., Pang, Q., & Fan, R. (2019). Low-dose bisphenol A exposure impairs learning and memory ability with alterations of neuromorphology and neurotransmitters in rats. Science of The Total Environment, 697, 134036.

Hong, S. B., Hong, Y. C., Kim, J. W., Park, E. J., Shin, M. S., Kim, B. N., … & Cho, S. C. (2013). Bisphenol A in relation to behavior and learning of school‐age children. Journal of child psychology and psychiatry, 54(8), 890-899.

Deb, P., Bhan, A., Hussain, I., Ansari, K. I., Bobzean, S. A., Pandita, T. K., … & Mandal, S. S. (2016). Endocrine disrupting chemical, bisphenol-A, induces breast cancer associated gene HOXB9 expression in vitro and in vivo. Gene, 590(2), 234-243.

Żwierełło, W., Maruszewska, A., Skórka-Majewicz, M., Goschorska, M., Baranowska-Bosiacka, I., Dec, K., … & Gutowska, I. (2019). The influence of polyphenols on metabolic disorders caused by compounds released from plastics-review. Chemosphere, 124901.

Hodges, R. E., & Minich, D. M. (2015). Modulation of metabolic detoxification pathways using foods and food-derived components: a scientific review with clinical application. Journal of nutrition and metabolism, 2015.

Genuis, S. J., Beesoon, S., Birkholz, D., & Lobo, R. A. (2012). Human excretion of bisphenol A: blood, urine, and sweat (BUS) study. Journal of Environmental and Public Health, 2012.

Read more:

Mother Jones, 2014: That Takeout Coffee Cup May Be Messing With Your Hormones

World Health Organization, 2011: Toxicological and Health Impacts of Bisphenol, A. 

On November 2nd, I’ll be running my first half marathon since 2010. Falling off the fitness bandwagon and pretty much staying there has been my closeted shame since my son was born in 2012.
I had spurts and fits of starting up again, but I was pretty inconsistent due to developing a thyroid condition postpartum (Hashimoto’s if you’re curious) and going to grad school when kiddo turned two. Getting back into the swing of things has been humbling and has taught me a great deal. Until I finished school, I had not been able to be reliably active for more than 12 weeks at a time. My greatest success was when I hired a personal trainer, but as soon as that funding ran out, so did my ability to commit to activity. Each start and stop over the years eroded my confidence more and more (can you relate?), but this last time I started up with what had the greatest reward potential and the lowest obstacles: running. I’d had a long, successful history with running and the time flexibility it offers is second only to having an in home gym or class you really like. Here’s what I’ve been learning  about myself over the last 5 months coming back to fitness from “Square One”:

1. You’ve got to let go of your past Self.  Once you’ve been away long enough, comparing yourself to your past self is just as foolish as comparing yourself to anyone else. Who I am now is nearly a decade older, structurally different after having a baby and losing significant muscle mass, and still navigating a complex medical condition. Each run gave me a humbling lesson in accepting a slower pace, acknowledging that this new body needs more rest and recovery, and that it also needs to beef up the muscles around the joints if those joints are going to last. The more I left Athlete Aimee in the past the more I was able to enjoy and appreciate what I was slowly building up to in the present. This made staying consistent that much easier. One of the ways I protected myself from making comparisons was to run for time rather than distance for the first few months so my Ego could take a chill pill (ie – run for 20 minutes rather than run for 2 miles).
2. Some is Better than None: Some weeks fatigue took me a step back or life got busy again and my mileage suffered. Because I was focused on creating a habit and not an end goal in mind (like a race) I could adjust as needed and remain flexible yet consistent. Two miles is just as good as five is that’s all I have time or energy for. Once I was imperfectly consistent enough to get in three runs a week for a month and build up to 6 miles, I pulled the trigger and signed up for a half marathon several months out to allow enough time to be imperfectly consistent and still safely run a long distance race.
   

   Sometimes I’d lure myself out for a run with the promise of coffee. I’m not above bribery, people!

    

3. Acknowledge and Respect the Hand of Chaos: Mom Aimee has to be much more flexible and forgiving with her training schedule than Athlete Aimee did. While I could have trained for a half in 12 weeks, I gave myself 16 weeks to make accommodations for the hand of chaos which is an inevitable part of the landscape now. Sometimes my training schedule called for a 5 mile run one day that ended up being a 2 miler and a 3 miler over two days. For a couple weeks work pushed out activity and threatened to derail my efforts but I recommitted and set firmer boundaries around my running time, enlisting the support of my partner. Once I accrued enough endurance, I paired my workout with a family errand (I ran to the Farmer’s Market and they met me there) to both motivate me and eliminate the temptation for what I wanted (this race) vs what needed to get done (weekly food shopping).
4. Once the habit is established, begin to branch out. I’m now in the habit of exercising 3-4 days a week, which honestly still astonishes me because that hasn’t been the case for years. After my half, I’m going to shake things up by adding weights back into the routine to build up that muscle mass I lost and give my 40-something knees more support. I’ll be playing with high intensity intervals and heavy weights, cycling them with my hormone status. Even though I’ve done this with clients, my own fitness has been inconsistent enough that I’ve not yet fully implemented this in my own regimen. I have a base of strength and endurance now to play with some more complex training and that is sparking my excitement enough I believe I’ll stay consistent post-race. Having a plan post-race will keep me moving forward. This is a strategy I’ve implemented with all my runners to help prevent the post-race blues.

Have you ever fallen off the bandwagon and stayed down for a significant period of time? What worked to get you back on track, or are you still struggling? Comment below and let me know!