It lurks in nearly every aisle of the grocery store.

And it could be killing your chances of having a family.

It sounds dramatic, I know. But a five-year study funded by the U.S. National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health has drawn some pretty disturbing conclusions about the effect of bisphenol-A (BPA) on reproductive health.

Specifically, compared to men without detectable levels of BPA in their urine, men with detectable levels had…

• more than twice the risk of lower sperm motility
• more than three times the risk of lowered sperm concentration and lower sperm virility
• and more than FOUR times the risk of a lower sperm count

As levels rise, sexual function drops further.

Oh, and it's estimated that 90 percent of Americans have detectable levels of BPA in their bodies.

So, yeah, pretty scary stuff. Of course, I should note that the study in question concerned factory workers who generally have a much higher exposure to BPA than consumers, but the research team found the troubling connection even in men with exposure comparable to that of men in the general U.S. population.

How do you stay away from something that's in...well, just about everything you come into contact with during your daily life?

Sure, BPA is currently something of a hot issue, with an increasing number of products sporting labels proclaiming they're BPA free.

But it's still used in packaging most of the canned foods on the grocery store shelves, and it still lurks in the plastics many people use to store food (look for the number 7 recycling label). In fact, it's a building block for most plastic products.

Then there's the matter of how long it's taken the FDA to even start admitting BPA was a problem. Back in 2006, the Nutrition & Healing team put out an e-Tip alerting readers to the dangers, but even now the FDA won't ban the chemical (and got themselves sued because of it). Instead, they've pledged millions of dollars for research at clarifying just how bad BPA is. Thing is, we've already got a pretty good idea.

Canada has already declared the stuff a toxic substance. Meanwhile, here in the United States, Senator Diane Feinstein from California has tried -- and failed -- to have new restrictions placed on the chemical.

Of course, it can be kind of tough to bring down an industry that rakes in billions of dollars a year.

She's trying again, though, with another stab at an amendment to the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (S. 510). If you think BPA has no place in our food supply, you can voice your support for the planned amendment here.

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