Bisphenol A (BPA) is a chemical compound primarily used in the manufacturing of various plastics. It is a colourless solid which is soluble in most common organic solvents, but has very poor solubility in water.[2][7] BPA is produced on an industrial scale by the condensation reaction of phenol and acetone. Global production in 2022 was estimated to be in the region of 10 million tonnes.[8]
The health effects of BPA have been the subject of prolonged public and scientific debate.[12][13][14] BPA is a xenoestrogen, exhibiting hormone-like properties that mimic the effects of estrogen in the body.[15] Although the effect is very weak,[16] the pervasiveness of BPA-containing materials raises concerns, as exposure is effectively lifelong. Many BPA-containing materials are non-obvious but commonly encountered,[17] and include coatings for the inside of food cans,[18] clothing designs,[19] shop receipts,[20] and dental fillings.[21] BPA has been investigated by public health agencies in many countries, as well as by the World Health Organization.[12] While normal exposure is below the level currently associated with risk, several jurisdictions have taken steps to reduce exposure on a precautionary basis, in particular by banning BPA from baby bottles. There is some evidence that BPA exposure in infants has decreased as a result of this.[22] BPA-free plastics have also been introduced, which are manufactured using alternative bisphenols such as bisphenol S and bisphenol F, but there is also controversy around whether these are actually safer.[23][24][25]
^ abShareef A, Angove MJ, Wells JD, et al. (11 May 2006). "Aqueous Solubilities of Estrone, 17β-Estradiol, 17α-Ethynylestradiol, and Bisphenol A". Journal of Chemical & Engineering Data. 51 (3): 879–881. doi:10.1021/je050318c.
^ abMitrofanova SE, Bakirova IN, Zenitova LA, et al. (September 2009). "Polyurethane varnish materials based on diphenylolpropane". Russian Journal of Applied Chemistry. 82 (9): 1630–1635. doi:10.1134/S1070427209090225. S2CID98036316.
^ abCite error: The named reference WHO was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^Cite error: The named reference German2011 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^Cite error: The named reference GLP was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^Egan M (2013). "Sarah A. Vogel. Is It Safe? BPA and the Struggle to Define the Safety of Chemicals". Isis. 105 (1). Berkeley: University of California Press: 254. doi:10.1086/676809. ISSN0021-1753.
^Cite error: The named reference Xenochemicals was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^Noonan GO, Ackerman LK, Begley TH (July 2011). "Concentration of bisphenol A in highly consumed canned foods on the U.S. market". Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 59 (13): 7178–7185. Bibcode:2011JAFC...59.7178N. doi:10.1021/jf201076f. PMID21598963.
^Chen D, Kannan K, Tan H, et al. (7 June 2016). "Bisphenol Analogues Other Than BPA: Environmental Occurrence, Human Exposure, and Toxicity—A Review". Environmental Science & Technology. 50 (11): 5438–5453. Bibcode:2016EnST...50.5438C. doi:10.1021/acs.est.5b05387. PMID27143250.