Lifestyle and Environment · Environmental Exposures
RRM Academy Synopsis
BPA replacements BPS and BPF show BPA-like hormone activity in labs
A 2015 systematic review of 32 laboratory studies found that BPS and BPF, two BPA replacements, act on hormone pathways much as BPA does. Twenty-five studies used cells only and 7 included animals. They reported estrogen-like, anti-estrogen, androgen-like and anti-androgen actions.
Key Findings
- The search identified 1,370 studies, and 32 met inclusion criteria: 25 in vitro (cell-based) only and 7 in vivo (in living animals).
- In 17 studies that tested them alongside BPA, mean estrogenic potency relative to BPA was 1.07 ± 1.20 for BPF and 0.32 ± 0.28 for BPS.
- In membrane receptor models, 2 studies found BPS had equivalent or greater estrogenic potency than estradiol. In nuclear receptor models, several found BPS weaker than estradiol.
- One rat study found BPS induced uterine growth, and two zebrafish studies found it decreased egg production. In two rat studies, BPF exposure also induced uterine growth.
- Cell data from 12 studies gave strong support for BPF being estrogenic, and 6 studies gave moderate support for BPF being antiandrogenic.
Interpretation
The authors followed the Office of Health Assessment and Translation protocol for systematic reviews and searched the literature through June 2014. The evidence comes from cell assays and from animals, including rats, zebrafish and Daphnia magna. All in vivo studies rated moderate quality or better. The authors note that little is known about how people are exposed to BPS and BPF or how the body handles them.
RRM Context
Restorative reproductive medicine looks for why ovulation goes wrong. Chemicals that act on estrogen and androgen pathways are possible contributors. Products sold as safer replacements belong on that list too.
Abstract
Background
Increasing concern over bisphenol A (BPA) as an endocrine-disrupting chemical and its possible effects on human health have prompted the removal of BPA from consumer products, often labeled "BPA-free." Some of the chemical replacements, however, are also bisphenols and may have similar physiological effects in organisms. Bisphenol S (BPS) and bisphenol F (BPF) are two such BPA substitutes.
Objectives
This review was carried out to evaluate the physiological effects and endocrine activities of the BPA substitutes BPS and BPF. Further, we compared the hormonal potency of BPS and BPF to that of BPA.
Methods
We conducted a systematic review based on the Office of Health Assessment and Translation (OHAT) protocol.
Results
We identified the body of literature to date, consisting of 32 studies (25 in vitro only, and 7 in vivo). The majority of these studies examined the hormonal activities of BPS and BPF and found their potency to be in the same order of magnitude and of similar action as BPA (estrogenic, antiestrogenic, androgenic, and antiandrogenic) in vitro and in vivo. BPS also has potencies similar to that of estradiol in membrane-mediated pathways, which are important for cellular actions such as proliferation, differentiation, and death. BPS and BPF also showed other effects in vitro and in vivo, such as altered organ weights, reproductive end points, and enzyme expression.
Conclusions
Based on the current literature, BPS and BPF are as hormonally active as BPA, and they have endocrine-disrupting effects. CITATION: Rochester JR, Bolden AL. 2015. Bisphenol S and F: a systematic review and comparison of the hormonal activity of bisphenol A substitutes.
