Bisphenol S

BPS has become increasingly common as a building block in polyethersulfone and some epoxies, following the public awareness that BPA has estrogen-mimicking properties, and widespread-belief that enough of it remains in the products to be dangerous.In this study, very high concentrations of BPS were detected in thermal receipt samples collected from cities in the United States, Japan, Korea, and Vietnam.These are important in foetal neurodevelopment and prenatal exposure to BPS has been linked to impaired psychomotor development in children.[18] The mechanism of the neurological impact of BPS is thought to be related to its oestrogenic effect which can interfere in the levels and action of thyroid hormone, which is essential for normal development of the nervous system; it regulates migration and differentiation of neural cells, synaptogenesis and myelination.[19] The effect of long term exposure to BPS is an enrichment of osteoclast differentiation and enhanced development of the embryonic skeletal system.[21] Fetal exposure to BPS through the placenta, during a critical period, can have negative effects on the developmental programming of the fetus.Studies in the Mouse model have shown that exposure to BPS significantly reduced the secretion of testosterone within the mouse fetal testes, with exposure to BPS in female mice also causing a significant fall in egg number, whilst also negatively affecting the quality of oocytes.Fetal exposure to BPS through the placenta, during a critical period, can have negative effects on the developmental programming of the fetus.Additionally, there is evidence to suggest that embryos with high levels of BPS exhibit teratogenic effects of vital organs such as the heart and liver.[23] Adult zebrafish that are exposed to low levels of BPS during development display hyperactivity due to an exponential increase in neural activity within the hypothalamus.[25] The estrogenic activity of BPS has been demonstrated through in vivo rodent studies, inducing growth of the womb, with a range of dosages.[26] Studies on zebrafish have shown decreased egg quality, reduced sperm count, an increased frequency of embryo abnormalities, as well as changes in the mass of gonads;[25] suggesting that BPS is a reproductive toxin for both sexes.[39] In January 2023 the European Chemicals Agency added bisphenol S to the candidate list for substance of very high concern designation, while it is investigated for reproductive toxicity and endocrine disruption.