Bisphenol A

bisphenol A (BPA), a colourless crystalline solid belonging to the family of organic compounds; its molecular formula is C₁₅H₁₆O₂. BPA is best known for its use in the manufacture of polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins, particularly those found in water bottles, baby bottles, and other beverage and food containers. It is also widely known for its tendency to leach from those products, which has made it a subject of public health and environmental concern.

In the early 21st century, global BPA production amounted to more than 6 billion pounds (2.7 billion kilograms) annually, roughly one-third of which was made in the United States. Human exposure in that country particularly was deemed to be widespread; a study published in 2008 estimated that more than 90 percent of Americans aged six and older had detectable levels of BPA in their urine.

In general, BPA levels in humans have measured well below 50 micrograms per kilogram of body weight per day, which is the maximum acceptable (or “reference”) dose set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Despite its presence in human populations and its association with reproductive and developmental toxicity in animals, most countries have not imposed regulations on the manufacture, import, or sale of BPA products. That has been due largely to conflicting scientific evidence for a direct association between low-level exposure and adverse health effects in humans. Some countries and regions, including Canada, Europe, Sweden, and the United States, on the other hand, have formally banned BPA from infant and children’s products, including, variously, cans of infant formula, baby bottles, and sippy cups.