Caution – bisphenol
The component of plastic bottles affected the work of human genes
Ivan Ortega, "The Attic"
The effect of bisphenol A is associated with a deterioration in the quality of sperm, as well as human reproductive dysfunction.
Researchers from the Institute of Experimental Medicine of the Russian Academy of Sciences have shown that this chemical, often used in consumer goods, can negatively affect human cells by suppressing DNA methylation. This is the name of the process of DNA modification, which plays an important role in how intensively information from certain genes is involved in protein coding.
Bisphenol A is a key component of epoxy resins and polycarbonate plastics. The latter is used to make water bottles, eye lenses, dental fillings, CDs and DVDs, various components of household and medical equipment. It is also available in thermal paper, which is used for receipts in cash registers. Epoxy resins with bisphenol A cover the inside of almost all beverage cans. All this makes it one of the most common household chemicals, and a person can practically not avoid contact with bisphenol A. Structurally, this compound is similar to human estrogen, the female sex hormone.
Despite the fact that a number of animal studies have shown a link between taking bisphenol A and a variety of problems – from overweight to breast and prostate cancer, abnormalities in the reproductive system and others, this compound is still allowed in most countries of the world. This is because, according to the authors of the article published in, the specific mechanisms by which bisphenol A could negatively affect the health of humans and animals are unknown (Suchkova et al., The influence of low dose Bisphenol A on whole genome DNA methylation and chromatin compression in different human cell lines).
To clarify the situation, the scientists took four human cell lines – three types of "normal" cells and one line of neuroblastoma, a malignant tumor of the sympathetic nervous system. Then all four lines were exposed to bisphenol A in different concentrations. The effect of it was quite unexpected: DNA methylation increased in some cell lines, decreased in others, in some cell lines the chemical led to chromatin compactification, in others – on the contrary. The mechanism that causes such an obvious reaction of human cells to bisphenol A, however, remained unclear.
DNA methylation is the most important mechanism for regulating the expression of certain genes. Expression is the process by which genes encode proteins. Genes whose expression is suppressed are not encoded by proteins. If a substance that enters the body when drinking water from plastic containers or with food controls DNA methylation, then it can influence how human genes encode proteins of human cells. And, accordingly, disrupt the natural course of this process.
Bisphenol A is similar to estrogen (female sex hormone), which is why human cells respond to bisphenol A in the blood in the same way as to female sex hormone. In particular, this is associated with the fact that men in developed countries have dramatically decreased sperm quality and fertility in the last 20 years (the likelihood that their sperm will be able to fertilize an egg). However, the authors found that bisphenol A acts on DNA methylation even in cells devoid of estrogen receptors. That is, it turns out that this compound can affect human cells through some other mechanisms that remain unknown for the time being.
Now bisphenol A is banned in Japan and partly in Europe – there it cannot be used in the production of baby food bottles.
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