BPS and BPF are as Carcinogenic as BPA and are Not Viable Alternatives for its Replacement

Abstract

Background: Plastic polymers are omnipresent, and life without them is virtually impossible. Despite the advantages provided by the material, conventional plastic also has harmful effects on the environment and human health. Plastics release microplastics and compounds, such as BPA, which is a xenoestrogen and once absorbed by the body, have an affinity for estrogen receptors α and β, acting as an agonist on human cells, being an endocrine disrupter able to cause various diseases and acting as a potential neoplastic inducer. BPS and BPF are BPA’s analogs, a proposed solution to solve its harmful effects. The analogs can be found in daily use products and are used in several industrial applications. Objectives: In the present work, the researchers aimed to conduct a revisional study on BPA's harmful effects on human health, focusing on its carcinogenic potential, discussing its mechanisms of action, as well as its analogs effects, and identifying if BPS and BPF are viable alternatives to BPA's substitution in plastic polymers' production. Methods: In this review, articles published in the last 15 years related to the different aspects of conventional plastics and BPA were analyzed and revised with precision. The subjects ranged from conventional plastics and the problems related to their large-scale production, BPA, its negative aspects, and the feasibility of using its analogs (BPS and BPF) to replace the compound. The articles were extensively reviewed and concisely discussed. Results: This study demonstrated that BPA has a high carcinogenic potential, with known mechanisms to trigger breast, ovarian, prostate, cervical, and lung cancers, thus elucidating that its analogs are also xenoestrogens, and they can exert similar effects to BPA and, therefore, cannot be considered viable alternatives for its replacement. Conclusion: This study suggests that new research should be carried out to develop such alternatives, allowing the substitution of plastic materials containing BPA in their composition, such as developing economically viable and sustainable biodegradable bioplastics for socio-environmental well-being.