Research highlights possible chemical risks in dental sealants

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New figures released by Statistics Canada have revealed that over ninety percent of Canadians between the ages of six and seventy-nine have detectable traces of Bispherol A (BPA) in their bloodstream and urine.

BPA is a commonly used man-made chemical, which is used to harden plastics, and is also used to make products including helmets, water bottles, CDs, DVDs and as a coating for dental fillings. The research, along with other international studies, has shown that people in Canada have 1.6 micrograms of BPA per one litre of urine; which comes in below other countries that were found to have up to three micrograms per litre. 

Although the affects of BPA in humans has been unfounded, the chemical compound has been found to increase estrogen levels in animals, raising concerns about its wide use. Reports suggest it could increase breast cancer and cause neural development in youngsters; and the Canadian government has since banned the use of BPA in battle bottles, branding the substance “toxic.”

Paediatric dentists have however defended its use, declaring that the amount of BPA in youngsters is not enough to be harmful.

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