1. Chemical in Food Containers Linked to Heart Disease

 From: Newsmax Health

A chemical commonly used in coatings inside food and beverage cans and to manufacture clear plastic bottles may be harmful to the heart, especially for women.

The chemical, bisphenol A (BPA), may cause arrhythmias or irregular heartbeats, according to a University of Cincinnati study.

BPA is found in a vast array of everyday items, including baby bottles, bottle tops, and dental fillings and sealants. It has been in use for more than 50 years and is a key component of epoxy resins used to line cans, as well as polycarbonate plastics used to make bottles.

“There is a broad exposure to bisphenol A, despite recognition that BPA can have harmful effects,” said study co-author Scott Belcher, an associate pharmacology professor at the university. “We had reason to believe that harmful cardiovascular effects can be added to the list.”

BPA has been tied to diabetes, prostate and breast cancer, and neurological defects, but the study links it to arrhythmias in women. In the study, BPA demonstrated an estrogen-like effect on the heart, altering the concentration of free calcium in the heart muscle cells of female mouse hearts and causing improperly controlled beating, the researchers said.