In an article published on August 9, 2016 by news provider United Press International (UPI), journalist Brooks Hays reports on a new study showing that bisphenol A (BPA, CAS 80-05-7) and popular alternative substance bisphenol S (BPS, CAS 80-09-1) negatively affect the fertility of roundworms. The study was published on July 29, 2016 in the peer-reviewed journal PLOS Genetics and conducted by researchers Yichang Chen and colleagues from the University of California, Los Angeles, U.S.. The researchers exposed roundworms (genetic model system Caenorhabditis elegans) to levels of BPA and BPS similar to concentrations measured in humans. Chen and colleagues found that both BPA and BPS caused severe reproductive defects in roundworms including germline apoptosis and embryonic lethality. The researchers also found, despite the high degree of structural similarity between BPA and BPS, that these reproductive effects are partly achieved via distinct mechanisms. Chen and colleagues conclude that their results “highlight the need for coordinated safety assessment of multiple substitutes and mixtures of these chemicals before their use in product replacement.”
Hay notes that “companies are legally allowed to describe and advertise products containing BPS as ‘BPA-free.’”
Read more
Brooks Hays (August 9, 2016). “Study: Plastic chemical BPS damages egg cells.” UPI
Gayle S. Putrich (August 10, 2016). “Study: BPA alternative BPS ‘more harmful.’” Plastics News
Reference
Chen, Y. et al. (2016). “Exposure to the BPA-substitute bisphenol s causes unique alterations of germline function.” PLOS Genetics (published online July 29, 2016).
