BPA...and BPS...& BPF? Oh My!

April 13, 2025

Ah, BPA – Bisphenol A, if you’re feeling fancy. Once upon a time, this chemical darling was hailed as the perfect plasticizer, making plastics sturdy, clear, and practically indestructible. (Because who doesn’t want their water bottles to survive the apocalypse?) 

But then, science had to go and ruin the party by pointing out that BPA was an endocrine disruptor, meaning it could mimic hormones in our bodies. And let’s face it: hormone mimicry isn’t exactly a selling point – unless you’re marketing to frogs with gender identity crises.

Suddenly, BPA went from industrial hero to public enemy number one. Headlines screamed about BPA’s sinister ability to mess with reproductive systems, metabolism, and even brain development. (As if we needed more reasons to blame plastic for our problems.) Consumers panicked, manufacturers scrambled, and BPA became the chemical equivalent of that one embarrassing relative nobody invites to family dinners anymore.

Like a hero on a white horse, the industry introduced BPA-free products. Hooray! We were saved!

Except… we weren’t.

Because instead of BPA, manufacturers started using BPS (Bisphenol S) and BPF (Bisphenol F) – which, spoiler alert, might not be any better. In fact, they could be just as bad, or worse. 

So, let’s dive into the murky world of bisphenols and figure out what’s really going on.

What Even Is a Bisphenol?

The synthetic compounds you never asked to know about but are somehow everywhere in your life. Let’s break it down:

What Are Bisphenols?

At their core, bisphenols are a family of industrial chemicals used to make plastics:

  • Tough

  • Durable

  • Conveniently capable of leaching into your food, water, and skin (Science!)

The most famous member of this dubious clan is BPA (Bisphenol A), but its lesser-known siblings BPS (Bisphenol S) and BPF (Bisphenol F) are also lurking in the shadows, waiting for their moment to shine (or, more accurately, disrupt your endocrine system).

Where Do Bisphenols Hide?

Oh, just everywhere:

  • Plastic water bottles

  • Food containers (food, skincare, toothpaste, etc)

  • The linings of canned goods

  • Receipts

Why Should You Care?

In short, bisphenols are:

  • Plastic-strengthening

  • Hormone-mimicking

  • Disturbingly omnipresent

They’ve been proven to have a multitude of hormonal, developmental, and various other adverse health effects. And despite what “BPA-free” labels might suggest, their replacements aren’t necessarily any better. (But don’t worry, we’ll get to that.)

BPA: The Original Villain

Ah, BPA – the chemical that launched a million panic-stricken Google searches. Bisphenol A first strutted onto the scene in the 1950s, helping to make plastics shatterproof, canned food shelf-stable, and receipts… well, receipt-y. For decades, we blissfully sipped from plastic water bottles and microwaved leftovers in Tupperware, unaware that BPA was quietly moonlighting as a hormone-mimicking troublemaker.

Then came the studies. The ones that linked BPA to endocrine disruption, reproductive issues, obesity, heart disease, and even cancer. (Yes, cancer. It wasn’t enough for BPA to just mess with our hormones – it had to go full supervillain.) Scientists discovered that BPA could mimic estrogen, throwing the body’s delicate hormonal balance into chaos. And because it was everywhere – leaching from plastic containers, lining canned foods, and transferring from receipts straight into our skin – it was basically impossible to avoid.

Cue the public outcry. Governments scrambled to respond, and by the early 2010s, BPA bans started rolling in. 

Canada declared it toxic. (Don’t ya know, eh?)

The European Union restricted its use in baby bottles. 

The U.S. FDA banned it from infant formula packaging (but, notably, not from everything else). Meanwhile, companies rushed to slap “BPA-free” labels on their products, reassuring consumers that their water bottles and food containers were now perfectly safe.

Except – plot twist – they weren’t. Because instead of actually solving the problem, manufacturers simply swapped BPA for BPS and BPF which, as we’ve mentioned, are not better.

So, if you thought “BPA-free” meant you were in the clear, buckle up. The bisphenol saga is far from over.

Enter BPS and BPF: The Sneaky Replacements

When BPA got its well-earned reputation as a hormone-wrecking nightmare, manufacturers didn’t exactly have a eureka moment and decide, “Hey, maybe we should rethink our entire approach to plastic production!” Nope, they just reached into the bisphenol alphabet soup and pulled out BPS and BPF – because, if you change one letter, it’s a whole new, totally safe chemical. (Science does not agree, source).

Manufacturers quietly swapped out notorious BPA for these suspiciously similar alternatives and tacked on BPA-free labels to seal the deal (marketing departments everywhere nod approvingly), hoping we’d all be too busy celebrating our newfound “chemical freedom” to notice.

We noticed. Or, at least, some of us have.

But wait, you ask, surely regulatory agencies wouldn’t let this happen, right?! Ah, sweet summer child – welcome to the wonderful world of regulatory loopholes! Thanks to some impressively vague definitions and a regulatory system that moves at the speed of continental drift, BPS and BPF have slipped very comfortably under the radar.

And because they haven’t been studied as extensively as BPA, we don’t even fully know what we’re dealing with yet. Which, if history is any indication, is probably not great.

The Science: Are BPS and BPF Just as Bad?

Let’s just say BPS and BPF aren’t exactly winning any wellness awards. Chemically speaking, they are each eerily similar to BPA, differing only slightly in molecular structure. Picture BPA with a minor haircut and a fake mustache, hoping you won’t recognize it at the grocery store checkout:

Hormone Disruption: The Bisphenol Family Tradition

If BPA was the original hormone-wrecking menace, BPS and BPF are its eager understudies, ready to step into the role at a moment’s notice. Once in the body, they all mimic estrogen. Some studies show that BPS and BPF do an even better mimicry job than BPA, but all seem to agree that the disruption is on the same order of magnitude, at the very least. Checkout the chart below (from here):

Reproductive Health: Because Who Needs Fertility Anyway?

Studies suggest that BPS and BPF could be just as bad as BPA when it comes to reproductive health. Research on animals (because testing this on actual humans would be ethically questionable at best) has linked these chemicals to lower sperm counts, disrupted ovarian function, and potential developmental issues in offspring. 

Worth noting here that many of the early studies on BPA used a so-called “low-dose” (<5 mg/kg/day) that was believed to simulate typical human exposure, showed adverse affects. But, of course, were dismissed by the FDA.

So, if you were hoping to pass on your love of organic farmers’ markets and reusable tote bags to the next generation, bisphenols might have other plans.

Brain and Behavior: The Plot Thickens

As if messing with your hormones and reproductive system wasn’t enough, there’s also evidence that bisphenols could affect brain development and behavior. Some studies suggest links to hyperactivity, anxiety, and cognitive issues. 

So, if you’ve ever felt inexplicably anxious while holding a receipt, maybe it’s not just capitalism – maybe it’s the bisphenols.

Persistence in the Environment: Because These Chemicals Never Die

Even if you somehow manage to dodge bisphenols in your personal life (good luck with that), they’re still out there, lurking in the environment. These chemicals don’t break down easily, meaning they accumulate in water, soil, and wildlife. So while you’re busy avoiding plastic water bottles, bisphenols are out there infiltrating the ecosystem, ensuring that even the fish are getting an unwanted dose of endocrine disruption.

The Verdict? Not Looking Great.

The bottom line: BPS and BPF aren’t the heroes we were promised. They’re just the latest players in an ongoing game of let’s-replace-one-questionable-chemical-with-another-and-hope -no-one-notices. And unfortunately, early research suggests they’re just as guilty as BPA when it comes to messing with our health.

So, if you were hoping for a happy ending here, I regret to inform you that we’re still stuck in the middle of a toxic chemical soap opera. Stay tuned for the next episode, where we’ll probably discover yet another bisphenol lurking in our everyday products.

Where Are BPS and BPF Hiding?

Let’s take a tour of their favorite hiding spots.

  • Canned Foods: The unsung heroes of convenience, apocalypse preparedness, and questionable culinary choices (looking at you, canned cheeseburger). Here’s the deal: manufacturers line cans with epoxy resins to prevent corrosion and keep your food tasting less like rusty metal and more like, well, food. Unfortunately, these epoxy linings often contain bisphenols, which have an annoying habit of leaching into your dinner. Heat, acidity, and time are the main culprits that encourage this leaching. So, that can of tomato sauce that’s been sitting in your pantry since the Bush administration? Maybe it’s finally time to toss it out. Just saying.

  • Thermal Paper (Receipts):  the flimsy scraps of paper that clutter your wallet, purse, and car cupholders, silently judging your impulse purchases. As if buyer’s remorse wasn’t punishment enough, these innocent-looking slips of thermal paper are coated with BPA, BPS, or BPF to magically appear inkless. Studies show that handling receipts can transfer BPS and BPF through your skin, and if you touch food afterward, congratulations – you’ve just seasoned your lunch with a dash of industrial chemicals. Read some crazy data at plasticlist.org. 

  • Water Supply: Oh yes, bisphenols don’t just stay in your Tupperware – they go on a little adventure, leaching into rivers, lakes, and even your tap water. Studies have found BPS and BPF in drinking water, which means you could be hydrating and getting an uninvited dose of synthetic estrogen at the same time. 

  • Plastic Containers & Bottles: “BPA-free” plastic sounds great until you realize it’s often just a marketing flex. If you’re storing food or drinks, glass, stainless steel, or silicone are your safest bets. Note that it isn’t just food – BPS and BPF have been found in body wash, hair care products, products, makeup, lotions, toothpaste, etc.

So, what have we learned? BPS and BPF are basically the same as BPA, stepping in whenever regulations get too pesky. They’re in your food, your receipts, your water, your skincare – basically, everywhere you don’t want them to be. But hey, knowledge is power, and now you can at least make an informed choice the next time someone tries to hand you a receipt. (Just back away slowly.)

What Can You Do? 

Short of moving to a remote cabin and drinking only from a mountain spring (tempting, honestly), here are some slightly more practical steps:

  • Ditch Plastic When Possible: If your water bottle or food container is plastic, there’s a decent chance it’s playing host to some bisphenols. Go for glass, stainless steel, or silicone instead – bonus points if you get to feel smug about your aesthetic, eco-friendly choices.

  • Be Wary of “BPA-Free” Claims: “BPA-free” doesn’t mean “bisphenol-free” – it just means they swapped in BPS or BPF instead. (Sneaky, right?) If it’s plastic, assume it’s guilty until proven innocent.

  • Skip the Receipt: If a cashier asks, “Do you want your receipt?” just say no (or ask for a digital one, if you enjoy inbox clutter).

  • Eat Fresh or Frozen, Not Canned: Canned foods often have bisphenol-laced linings, so fresh or frozen is your best bet. If you must go canned (because, hey, convenience), look for brands that explicitly state they use bisphenol-free linings – they’re probably still f*!ked though, tbh.

  • Filter Your Water: Because, yes, bisphenols have even infiltrated our drinking water. A solid water filter, such as an RO filter, can help reduce exposure – just make sure it’s actually designed to catch these sneaky chemicals (Britas, pitcher filters, and fridge filters are not).

Will doing all this make you completely bisphenol-free? Probably not. But will it cut down your exposure and give you a slight sense of control in this chaotic chemical landscape? Absolutely. And sometimes, that’s the best we can do.

The Big Picture: Are We Just Playing Chemical Whack-a-Mole?

The real issue here isn’t just BPA, or BPS, or even BPF – it’s the entire system that allows chemicals to waltz into our products without proving they won’t wreak havoc on our bodies. 

Instead of requiring companies to demonstrate long-term safety before these substances hit the market, we take the “wait and see” approach. (Translation: “Let’s see how many people get sick before we do something about it.”)

And when the evidence finally piles up and a chemical gets the boot? No problem! Industry just tweaks a molecule here, shuffles a few atoms there, and – voilà! – a brand-new, technically different compound is born. Never mind that it might have the same (or worse) effects. It’s got a new name, a shiny “BPA-free” label, and a free pass to keep circulating until it inevitably gets exposed.

So, what’s the solution? Well, short of lobbying for sweeping chemical reform (exhausted just thinking about it), the best defense is awareness and smarter choices. Avoid plastics when you can, be skeptical of “BPA-free” claims, and maybe – just maybe – start treating receipts like they’re radioactive. Because in this never-ending game of chemical whack-a-mole, the only way to win is to stop playing.

Final Thoughts

BPA was the bad guy, but BPS and BPF aren’t exactly heroes. They’re just the next round of questionable replacements.

The real kicker? We keep falling for the same trick. A chemical gets exposed as harmful, the public panics, manufacturers scramble to swap it out for something technically different but functionally identical, and the cycle begins anew. 

So, while you can’t avoid bisphenols entirely (unless you plan to live in a glass bubble – and even then, check what the sealant is made of), you can reduce your exposure. Skip the receipt, swap plastic for glass or stainless steel, and maybe give canned foods some serious side-eye.

And hey, if nothing else, at least now you have a fun fact to horrify your friends with the next time they grab a receipt. (“Oh, you like endocrine disruption, huh? Bold choice.”)

Stay safe, stay informed, and maybe… just say no to plastic.