Terms to Know: What is Bisphenol-A?

What is Bisphenol-A?

Bisphenol-A, or BPA, was first developed in 1891, and is just one single chemical from the larger bisphenol chemical family. In the mid 1930s, it was meant to be used as a synthetic estrogen but diethylstilbestrol (DES) ended up taking on that role instead.

In the 1950s, BPA was added to plastics which made them stronger, more durable, transparent, lightweight, and shatter-resistant, making them popular to use in packaging, storage, and manufacturing.

Where can we find BPA?

Did you know that bisphenols are only used in a few types of plastic? BPA is specifically used to make polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins.

Polycarbonate plastics are the clear, hard, shatterproof kind, like blenders, food processors, some food storage containers, and some water bottles. So, not the soft plastics like sandwich baggies or single-use water bottles (however, there are harmful chemicals in those, too, in order to make them soft and flexible). The downside is BPA can easily migrate out of plastics into the foods or beverages that come in contact with them.

Epoxy resins are used to line the interior of nearly all canned foods to prevent the food from having direct contact with the metal can, however, BPA can leach from these linings into the food. If you eat a lot of canned foods, you’re likely to have higher bisphenol exposure.

You can also find BPA in inkless thermal paper, like cash register receipts, airline tickets, movie tickets, etc. And it can even be used in some types of dental sealants.

Why do we need to be concerned?

BPA is a hormone disruptor that acts like a weak estrogen and has been linked to the following health issues:

• Reproductive health issues (e.g., infertility, hormonal imbalances).

• Developmental problems in children.

• Increased risk of certain cancers (e.g., breast and prostate cancer).

• Metabolic issues like obesity and diabetes.

• Behavioral effects such as hyperactivity and anxiety in children.

OK. Any alternatives?

The public has started to become more informed about BPA and started to demand products without BPA, but unfortunately, plastic manufacturers just started using other members of the bisphenol family, specifically, BPS and BPF, that have similar negative health effects.

So, when you see “BPA-free”, it doesn’t necessarily mean that a product is safer.

Alright. So what are we supposed to do?

Here are some ways to limit your exposure:

• Minimize plastic use whenever possible
• Don’t heat food in plastics
• Use glass containers for food storage as much as you can
• Minimize reliance on canned foods
• Decline cash register receipts if you don’t really need them

RESOURCES

“Bisphenol a (BPA).” National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, 2024, www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/agents/sya-bpa.

Vogel, Sarah A. “The Politics of Plastics: The Making and Unmaking of Bisphenol a “Safety.”” American Journal of Public Health, vol. 99, no. S3, Nov. 2009.

Gore, A C, et al. “EDC-2: The Endocrine Society’s Second Scientific Statement on Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals.” Endocrine Reviews, vol. 36, no. 6, 6 Nov. 2015.

Rochester, Johanna R, and Ashley L Bolden. “Bisphenol S and F: A Systematic Review and Comparison of the Hormonal Activity of Bisphenol a Substitutes.” Environmental Health Perspectives, vol. 123, no. 7, 16 Mar. 2015‌

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