"ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- In one of the first human studies of its kind, researchers have found that urinary concentrations of the controversial chemical Bisphenol A, or BPA, may be related to decreased sperm quality and sperm concentration.

BPA mimics the body's own hormones and may lead to negative health effects, say critics of the chemical.

BPA is most commonly used to make plastics and epoxy resins used to line food and beverage cans, and people are exposed primarily through diet, although other routes are possible such as exposure through the skin when handling paper used to print cash register receipts.

Globally, more than six billion pounds of BPA are produced each year."

Environment News Service had the story August 3, 2010. [2]