While the BPA-free symbol on many plastic products makes us believe we are choosing a safer alternative, new research shows why this may not be the case.
Bisphenol A (BPA) has been used in the manufacturing of plastic products, however due to the link found between BPA and negative health effects, such as increased risk of early puberty, breast cancer, and prostate cancer, many manufacturers have stopped using BPA in their plastic products, producing BPA-free alternatives. One of the common replacements for BPA in plastics is now Bisphenol S (BPS).
A new research study that has come out of UCLA has found that BPS could potentially have its own array of negative health effects. The study, published today in the journal Endocrinology, investigated the effects of BPS using zebrafish as their experimental model. They found that embryo development in the zebrafish was altered in the presence of either BPA or BPS. Specifically, they reported an increase in the development of brain cells that are involved in controlling reproduction. The authors suggest that this over production of neurons that control reproduction has the potential to result in early puberty and dysfunction of the reproductive system.
The results of the study suggest that BPS may not be a safer alternative to BPA, and the researchers are planning future studies to further investigate the negative effects of BPS.
UCLA News Release: “Chemical in “BPA-Free” Plastic Accelerates Embryonic Development, Disrupts Reproductive System in Animals” Available from: http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/646945/?sc=mwhn Last Accessed: February 1, 2016.
