A popular chemical alternative to bisphenol A (BPA), known for use in plastic water bottles and food cans, is worrying that it can “seriously damage” human brains.
A new study by scientists at the University of Bayreuth in Germany studied the impact of BPA and its chemical cousin Bisphenol S (BPS) on goldfish nerve cells.
“We were amazed at the amount of vital brain functions that affect fish by the plasticizers used in numerous industries,” Elisabeth Schirmer, the study’s lead author, told News Atlas. “This damage, as we have been able to show, does not occur immediately. However, when brain cells are exposed to small amounts of BPA or BPS for a month, the damage is unmistakable. “
According to a 2018 report, both BPA and BPS are used as color developers and many companies receive receipts with these chemicals.
A report by researchers at New York State University in Albany and the Chinese Academy of Sciences noted that nearly 90 percent of human exposure to BPS can be sought in receipts.
The University of Bayreuth study focused on Mauthner cells in goldfish, which are the two largest nerve cells in fish brains, according to the medium. Cells are part of all sensory stimuli and help vertebrates flee from predators.
The study showed a deterioration in the functioning of the nervous system and an interruption in the processing of acoustic and visual stimuli.
Scientists working on the study believe that the effects that blonde fish suffer from exposure to BPS and BPA can be mimicked in humans.
“The results obtained through studies on fish brains justify the assessment that BPA and BPS can also severely damage the brains of adult humans,” said the study’s author, Dr. Peter Machnik. “In this context, it is critical that science and industry develop new plasticizers to replace these bisphenols, even though they are safe for human health.”
Manufacturers that use BPS in their products have put “BPA-free” labels on packages despite a 2020 study that BPS “can fundamentally alter fetal brain development,” according to News Atlas.
In recent years, there have been reports that BPA and BPS were related to childhood obesity and hormone alteration in adolescents.