Bisphenol A (BPA) and others

The journey from industry to human exposure & health risks

A few years ago I completed an Environmental Health unit as part of my Masters course. One of the environmental hazards I studied and wrote a paper on was BPA.  This chemical is widely distributed across the environment and capable of having far reaching impacts on human health.

BPA has been in the media in recent times – due to concern over baby milk bottles made with BPA.   Widespread awareness of the potential for harm from BPA has lead to the banning of BPA bottles in many countries over recent years.

Major Recent Developments

There have been significant regulatory developments worldwide. Most notably, the European Union officially adopted a ban on BPA in all food contact materials in December 2024, following a 2023 European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) report that reduced the tolerable daily intake by a factor of 20,000 and concluded that current dietary BPA exposure levels pose health concerns for the entire population. This EU ban came into effect on January 20, 2025, with an 18-month transition period for industry compliance.

So let’s take a look at Bisphenol A (BPA) in more detail and explore the issues concerning this chemical.

Bis-phenol A (BPA) is one of the chemicals known as endocrine disruptors that are now considered ubiquitous in the environment. BPA is one of the highest volume chemicals produced worldwide. Current estimates indicate that more than 8 billion pounds of BPA are produced annually and approximately 100 tons may be released into the atmosphere each year.

As of 2024, polycarbonate resins continue to dominate the global BPA market, accounting for approximately 62% of total market volume, indicating that despite growing awareness, BPA production remains substantial.

Other Bisphenols to be Wary of

Don’t be fooled by “BPA-Free” labels – the alternatives may be just as harmful. When consumers became aware of BPA’s health risks, industry responded by replacing it with structural analogues, primarily Bisphenol S (BPS) and Bisphenol F (BPF). These chemicals are now widely used in products marketed as “BPA-free,” creating a false sense of security among consumers.

BPS and BPF are proving to be equally problematic

Research consistently shows that BPS and BPF are as hormonally active as BPA, and they have endocrine-disrupting effects. In some studies, BPS exhibited its effects at a dosage ten times lower than BPA or BPF, suggesting it may actually be more potent than the chemical it was meant to replace.

Where you’ll find BPS and BPF:

• Thermal receipt paper (BPS is particularly common)
• “BPA-free” plastic bottles and food containers
• Personal care products
• Food packaging and can linings
• Children’s toys and products marketed as “safer alternatives”

Health concerns mirror those of BPA:

• Endocrine disruption and hormonal effects
• Protumorigenic changes in human mammary gland
• Potential cardiovascular disease risks
• Reproductive and developmental effects
• Metabolic disruption

The bottom line: BPF and BPS are replacing BPA in the manufacturing of products containing polycarbonates and epoxy resins, but current human exposure data shows these substitutes are already measurable in our bodies. The lesson here is clear – we need to avoid bisphenols as a chemical class, not just BPA specifically.

What this means for consumers: When you see “BPA-free” on a product label, ask what it’s been replaced with. Often, the answer is another bisphenol that carries similar risks. The safest approach is to minimize exposure to all bisphenols by choosing glass, stainless steel, or truly safer alternatives whenever possible.

Where Does Bisphenol A (BPA) Come From?

BPA is used in the manufacture of polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins that line food and beverage containers and also contribute to dental materials.

Additional uses for BPA include items that we come in contact with daily in domestic and workplace environments including the coating of CDs, DVDs, electronic equipment, automobiles, recycled paper and carbonless paper often used in register receipts.

Additionally, BPA has been measured in freshwater, seawater, landfill leachates, air, and dust particles. The widespread existence of BPA in the environment means humans and other species are at risk of exposure. BPA was detected in the urine samples of 92.6% of participants  in one US study and  BPA has been measured in human blood, breast milk, amniotic fluid and placental tissue.

Recent research from 2018-2024 continues to document the widespread presence of BPA and its structural analogues in food and beverages marketed across Europe, confirming that exposure remains a significant concern.

How Do We Absorb It?

BPA can enter the body through different exposure routes. The majority of human exposures come through the oral or ingested route. Ingesting foods and drinks that have been stored in BPA lined packaging is the primary source of ingested BPA amongst children and adults.

There is evidence that acidic foods have a higher capacity to leach BPA and also heating of foods and drinks can increase the leaching from the packaging into the food.  Long term storage and reusing of plastic water bottles is also thought to increase the potential for leaching through breakdown of the plasticizers.  It is important to note that breastfed infants are also exposed through maternal colostrum and breast milk. A study found BPA in the breast milk of all 23 healthy women they examined.

Dental materials can also be a source of ingested BPA with the potential for leaching of the chemical out of composite dental materials.  We are also exposed via the skin through handling  carbonless cash register receipts and electrical equipment that use BPA.

What Happens Once BPA Gets In The Body?

Once BPA enters the body through ingestion of contaminated foods and drinks, it is rapidly metabolised by the gut and absorbed into the bloodstream.  Active forms of BPA are more likely through skin and air exposures – when the chemical is absorbed directly into the bloodstream and thus bypasses gut breakdown.

Many studies of the health effects of BPA have focused on its well-documented oestrogenic activity with the chemical having an affinity with the oestrogen receptor. Chemicals that can bind to oestrogen receptors can elicit an oestrogenic action much like our own oestrogen does.  While BPA is generally thought to only be a weak stimulant – the fear is that chronic long term low level exposure can still have serious health impacts.

Recent EFSA evaluation identified the immune system as the most sensitive to BPA exposure, taking into consideration evidence from animal data and support from human observational studies.

The major at risk populations for the known harmful endocrine effects of BPA on the sensitive reproductive system are considered to be the foetus, infants, young children and potentially adolescents.

Some of the known health associations of high BPA concentrations include:

• Cardiovascular disease
• Diabetes
• Liver dysfunction
• Thyroid issues
• Obesity
• Cancer (particularly breast & prostate)
• Immune system dysfunction

What Should We Do?

When clear risks are unknown, I recommend that we avoid our exposure as much as possible, particularly in infants and children. Avoiding canned foods and plastic food containers will limit overall exposure, but being mindful of the other exposures is also warranted.