Are BPA Alternatives Safer? New Research Takes a Look

New research conducted at the University of Florida shows that a bisphenol A (BPA) alternative for making plastics, bisphenol S (BPS), could come with its own set of health risks. After past studies revealed the widely used BPA was contaminating food and water supplies, consumers quickly searched for alternatives. Market demand for BPA-free products led to the emergence of BPS as a commonly used bisphenol analog in plastic products.

The UF | ICBR Proteomics and Mass Spectrometry (PM) core contributed to research that studied the impact of BPS on mouse development. The study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, is titled “Bisphenol A and bisphenol S disruptions of the mouse placenta and potential effects on the placenta–brain axis”. The PM Core used mass spectrometry to measure the levels of neurotransmitters in the placenta of mice exposed to BPA or BPS. The data generated by the ICBR PM core showed that like BPA, BPS has similar effects on the levels of the neurotransmitters serotonin and dopamine, both of which are important in regulating normal mouse neural development. These observations imply that there are likely to be associated effects of BPS on fetal neurodevelopmental in rodents.

“This is also a great collaboration between a UF | ICBR Core and the UF Center for Environmental and Human Toxicology, headed by Professor Nancy Denslow.”

Proteomics and Mass Spectrometry Services

Contact UF | ICBR Proteomics & Mass Spectrometry

Email: ICBR-Proteomics@ad.ufl.edu  Phone: (352) 273-8060

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