High concernOther
Bisphenol S
Endocrine disruptorReproductive toxicant
What it is
A bisphenol analogue of BPA with a sulfonyl bridge instead of propane.
What it does
Marketed as a BPA-free substitute in plastics, thermal paper, and food can linings.
Why it’s a concern
A 2015 systematic review found experimental hormonal activity for BPS in the same general potency range as BPA. Human health-outcome evidence remains sparse, so BPS is not proven safer or equally harmful. NHANES 2013-2014 detected BPS in 89.4% of tested urine samples. Prolonged receipt handling can increase bisphenol exposure, but brief contact has not been shown to cause disease.
Also known as
BPS4,4’-sulfonyldiphenol
CAS numbers
80-09-1
Commonly found in
BPA-free plasticsthermal receiptspolyethersulfone
Safer alternatives
- glass
- stainless steel
- phenol-free thermal paper
Related chemical families
Sources
- Rochester and Bolden 2015, EHP