{"id":330,"date":"2015-02-17T07:54:05","date_gmt":"2015-02-17T12:54:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/intranet.chemservice.com\/news\/2015\/02\/bpa-grabs-the-headlines-but-what-about-bps\/"},"modified":"2015-02-17T07:54:05","modified_gmt":"2015-02-17T12:54:05","slug":"bpa-grabs-the-headlines-but-what-about-bps","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/intranet.chemservice.com\/news\/bpa-grabs-the-headlines-but-what-about-bps\/","title":{"rendered":"BPA grabs the headlines, but what about BPS?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Bisphenol A or BPA is frequently in the news for its danger to humans. BPA is an endocrine disrupter and can act as estrogen leading to evidence of negative health consequences in animal test subjects and health consequences for humans. While there's debate about the effects of BPA in low doses or in containers, many products, from water bottles to receipt paper, are moving to alternatives, like bisphenol S or BPS. <\/p>\n

But, as Environmental Health Perspectives explained, BPS also may carry risks<\/a>. Therefore replacing BPA with BPS may not be solving the problem at all, but rather replacing it with a new one. <\/p>\n

BPS concerns<\/strong>
\nEnvironmental Health Perspectives pointed to a study<\/a> from two researchers in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of Texas in Galveston as evidence of the risk BPS presents. The study, which used rats as subjects, tested BPS exposure at low levels and looked at cell health. It concluded that BPS led to a disruption in membrane-initiated E2-induced cell signaling and cell proliferation. The rats also experienced cell death. <\/p>\n

Studies are being done about BPS, but not few on its health effects. EHP explained that work has only started on the health consequences of BPS while, many researchers have looked at the proliferation of BPS in everyday life. It's in the environment, a variety of consumer goods and even the human body. <\/p>\n

Like BPA, BPS is found in a high percentage of the population of the U.S.' urine. EHP explained that researchers found the highest concentrations of BPS in the urine of Japanese citizens, where BPA had been banned in paper products as early as 2000. <\/p>\n

BPS, like BPA, is likely absorbed through the skin from paper goods like receipts. This EHP article explained that more research needs to be done to find the full effects of BPS or how it enters the human body, but Laura Vandenberg, a postdoctoral fellow at Tufts University told EHP that she definitely doesn't want BPS to get onto certain consumer paper goods that are made of recycled materials.<\/p>\n

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"Some recycled paper products, like facial and toilet tissues, come into contact with our mucous membranes and sometimes our food. We don't want that paper to have chemicals that mimic hormones," Vandenberg explained.<\/p>\n

The newest research, from the University of Calgary, shows that BPS and BPA altered the brain development and activity of zebrafish.<\/p>\n

These fish can be used as models for human brain development and may shed light on the potential effects of BPS. The exposure led the fish to develop brain cells at a faster-than-normal rate early on then too slow a rate later in life. The study was published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences and shed doubt on the safety of both BPA and BPS products.<\/p>\n

What is BPS in?  <\/strong>
\nBPS, also known as ,4'-Sulfonyldiphenol or C12<\/sub>H10<\/sub>O4<\/sub>S, is often used in epoxy or resin. But, as EPH explained, as people want to avoid BPA, BPS has been used more frequently in consumer goods because the two chemicals are analogs. <\/p>\n

The Washington Post recently published a list of "BPA-free" products that may contain BPS, which people may want to avoid as more health concerns arise. Products such as hard plastic water bottles, plastic bags, nonstick cookware, food cans, plastic plates and plastic storage containers should be used sparingly and you may want to wash your hands afterwards, according to the newspaper. <\/p>\n

Instead of these plastic containers, people may want to opt for stainless steel, glass or natural rubber options. These products are more "old fashioned" but they're made without any BPA or BPS. <\/p>\n