BPA-Free Plastics Contain BPS. Which May Be Just As Harmful
This is an editorial summary of research originally reported by Endocrinology Journal / University of Calgary. ProductSafer does not claim ownership of the underlying research. All intellectual property belongs to the original publishers.
Following the BPA ban, manufacturers switched to BPA-free alternatives like BPS. New research shows BPS disrupts cardiac function and acts as an estrogen mimic with similar potency to BPA.
After widespread concern about bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical used to harden plastics and line food cans, manufacturers pivoted to "BPA-free" products using substitutes like bisphenol S (BPS) and bisphenol F (BPF). The problem: these alternatives appear to carry many of the same risks.
A 2019 study published in *Endocrinology* found that BPS caused irregular heartbeats in female rats at concentrations found in human blood samples. A separate study from the University of Calgary showed that BPS altered brain development in zebrafish in ways that mirror BPA's effects.
- BPS and BPF are structurally similar to BPA and bind to estrogen receptors
- They are at least as resistant to degradation as BPA, meaning they persist in the environment
- They leach from plastics at similar or higher rates than BPA when exposed to heat
- Water bottles and food containers labeled "BPA-free"
- Thermal receipt paper (absorbed through skin)
- Canned food linings
- Baby bottles (some brands)
- Glass or stainless steel containers for food and drink
- Avoid microwaving food in any plastic container
- Decline printed receipts where possible, or wash hands after handling them
What you can do
- ✓Check whether your reusable water bottles and food containers labeled "BPA-free" are made of glass or stainless steel instead, since BPS in BPA-free plastics leaches at similar or higher rates than the original BPA when heated.
- ✓Transfer canned foods to glass containers if you plan to store them, since BPS is commonly found in can linings and can leach into food over time.
- ✓Avoid microwaving food in any plastic container, including those marked "BPA-free," because heat causes BPS and other bisphenols to leach from the plastic at higher rates.
- ✓When purchasing baby bottles, specifically verify they are made of glass or stainless steel rather than plastic labeled BPA-free, since BPS carries similar risks to cardiac function and hormone disruption as the original BPA.
Always consult a healthcare professional for personal medical advice.
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