In an article published on June 1, 2016 in the peer-reviewed journal Chemosphere Afia Usman and Masood Ahmad from the Faculty of Life Sciences, Aligarh Muslim University, India, review the data on exposure and toxicity of chemicals used as replacements for bisphenol A (BPA, CAS 80-05-7). BPA is an endocrine disrupting chemical banned for use in baby feeding bottles, with stricter regulation in other food contact materials planned in the EU (FPF reported).
Reviewed BPA analogues include bisphenol AF (BPAF, CAS 1478-61-1), bisphenol B (BPB, CAS 77-40-7), bisphenol F (BPF, CAS 620-92-8), and bisphenol S (BPS, CAS 80-09-1). With their use increasing in the last decade, these substances have now been detected in various environmental compartments as well as in humans. BPB and BPS appear to degrade only slowly in the environment and thus have a bioaccumulation potential. Data on metabolism in humans is scarce; however, BPAF metabolism is also slower than that of BPA. BPA analogues show hormonal activities and an ability to induce oxidative stress, similar to BPA. Moreover, all studies with BPA analogues performed so far have found that they are genotoxic. Although the data are still scarce, the available evidence suggests that BPA analogues produce effects similar to BPA, and BPB and BPS may even be more potent.
Given the ubiquitous presence and BPA-like activity of BPA analogues, the authors call for a comprehensive evaluation of the safety of bisphenols.
Reference
Usman, A. and Ahmad, M. (2016). “From BPA to its analogues: Is it a safe journey?” Chemosphere 158: 131-142.
