Products
Bisphenol A has been used in the manufacture of plastics since the 1950s and can be found, for example, in plastic bottles, in the inner coating of beverage cans and canned foods, in thermal paper (sales slips, parking tickets), in CDs, DVDs, toys, plastic tableware, dental fillings and many other products. It was also present in baby bottles for infants, but has since been banned by various countries as a precautionary measure. Typical examples of plastics or resins containing bisphenol A are polycarbonates (PC) and epoxy resins. Millions of tons of bisphenol A are produced worldwide every year.
Structure and properties
Bisphenol A (C15H16O2, Mr = 228.3 g/mol) exists as a white powder or in the form of white flakes and is sparingly soluble in water. The melting point is 156°C. The substance is synthesized from phenol and acetone.
Adverse effects
Bisphenol A is controversial and has been associated with numerous potential adverse effects in the literature. It can pass in small amounts into foods with which the plastics/synthetic resins come into contact and can also be absorbed into the human body through the skin or lungs. Especially when heated, the substance leaks out of the plastic. Bisphenol A has weak estrogenic effects and can bind to estrogen receptors (“endocrine disruptor”). In high doses, it is toxic to the kidneys and liver. In addition, several other possible toxic effects have been found. However, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) assesses the use of the substance as safe after a detailed analysis within the permitted amounts.
