BPA Alternative Proves to be Harmful

Two studies have determined that the plastic additive, BPS, a substitute for BPA, might be even more harmful than BPA itself.  Researchers have found that BPS has been liked to irregular heart beats and irregular brain growth, especially in boys. BPS has the same endocrine disrupting qualities as BPA, which has already been linked to prostate cancer, infertility, asthma, heart disease and a number of neurodevelopmental disorders. And moth are found to be more harmful the lower the exposure. 

Since BPA and BPS have similar chemical structures and properties, it is not surprising that they have similar toxic qualities, as well. How can a manufacturer or designer truly know what they are specifying. 

“A lot of the alternative chemicals have not been adequately tested because they don’t have to be,” said lead author Deborah Kurrasch. “A compound is considered safe (by the Food and Drug Administration) until proven otherwise.”

"I think it would be prudent to test BPS and other chemicals with a similar structure, instead of just assuming that they are safe,"  said Hong-Sheng Wang, a professor of pharmacology at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine.

Read more about it in the Washington Post

Or the National Geographic

And the Environmental Health Perspectives.