Core Findings - Researchers from Kyoto University and Ritsumeikan University discovered that exposure to bisphenol A (BPA) and retinoic acid during early development significantly increases the risk of abnormalities in brain, nerve, and facial structure formation in zebrafish embryos [1][2] - BPA is commonly used in plastic production and is found in various consumer products, raising concerns about its impact on reproductive and endocrine health, as well as its potential link to conditions like infertility, cancers, allergies, obesity, and autism [1] - The study published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives indicates that while BPA alone does not affect the expression of HOX genes, the presence of low concentrations of retinoic acid alongside BPA leads to a significant increase in HOX gene expression [1] Experimental Results - The zebrafish embryo experiments showed that simultaneous exposure to BPA and retinoic acid resulted in abnormal expression of hindbrain-related genes and increased probability and severity of abnormalities in craniofacial cartilage [2] - The hindbrain is a critical region in vertebrate embryos that will differentiate into structures such as the cerebellum and medulla [2] - The research team emphasized the need to pay special attention to the combined effects of plastic chemicals and other active substances on developmental health, as low concentrations of certain substances may not pose significant risks when isolated [2]