CARNAL NATION

The Associated Press reports that high levels of exposure to chemical bisphenol A (BPA) may be linked to sex problems for men. A study of factory workers in China compared 164 men who were exposed to high BPA levels at work with 386 other men in the same town. Levels of BPA exposure were measured through air sampling and participants were interviewed with regard to their sexual functioning. Those with high exposure were far more likely (400 percent) to have difficulty achieving erections and seven times more lively to have trouble with ejaculation. They were also four times more likely to experience low sex drive and low levels of sexual satisfaction.

According to researcher, Dr. De-Kun Li, the workers were likely exposed to BPA through inhalation, skin contact and ingestion of contaminated food. Their levels of contact are estimated at 50 times higher than those of the average American male. Steven Hentges, a BPA expert with the American Chemistry Council, explains that the results may be alarming, but are not particularly relevant to the average consumer. He suggests that the estimates of exposure levels for the factory workers may be on the low side and explains that consumers contact BPA through diet which allows the body to detoxify it.

A number of consumer products contain BPA including hard plastic bottles and metal cans. Though many companies stopped using BPA in baby bottles, the Food and Drug Administration concluded in 2008 that the trace amounts in food and beverage containers are not harmful. However, their conclusion has been criticized by the scientific community and their website indicates that they are continuing their risk assessment process and will “consider new research and information as they become available.”