Bisphenol A: Structure, Function, and Associated Health Risk: Bisphenol A and Human Health

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a synthetic compound extensively utilized as a precursor material in the manufacture of polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resin, which are found in food and beverage containers, thermal paper, water bottles, and medical devices. Owing to its large global production and widespread industrial uses, BPA has become ubiquitous in the environment, raising significant concerns about its potential risks to human health. BPA can enter the human body by oral, skin contact and inhalation as migrated products. As an endocrine disruptor, BPA acts as an agonist or antagonist of the body's hormones, such as estrogen and androgen. These cause various disruption effects in numerous physiological systems, like reproductive, cardiovascular and neurological systems. Recently, it has been observed that BPA may promote mutagenesis and carcinogenesis. The mechanisms highlighting BPA's toxicity involve receptor pathways, oxidative stress, enzyme inhibition, and epigenetic mechanisms. As a result of its health risks, some industries have explored analogues to BPA, such as bisphenol S (BPS), bisphenol F (BPF), and bisphenol AF (BPAF).