Bisphenol A (BPA) was investigated in the 1930s during the search for synthetic estrogens. Diethylstilbestrol proved more powerful than estrogen, so bisphenol A was not used as a synthetic estrogen.
Currently, it is a primary monomer in polycarbonate plastic and epoxy resins. Bisphenol A is also employed as an antioxidant in plasticizers and as an inhibitor for polymerization in PVC. These plastics are a common constituent of many products, from sunglasses and CDs to water and food containers and shatter-resistant baby bottles.
Some polymers employed in dental fillings also contain bisphenol A, while epoxy is a common coating for the inside of cans in food industry. BPA leaks from plastics get cleaned with harsh detergents containing acidic components or at high temperatures, and now most people in developed countries present this chemical at very low concentrations. The chemical has been linked by some researches to sterility in women.
No comments:
Post a Comment