plastic wastes burdening earth's water and accumulating on land, releasing toxic leachates, are one of the greatest global threats of our time. Bisphenol-A (BpA), a potent endocrine disrupting compound, is a synthetic ingredient of the polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins used in food containers, cans, and water bottles. Bisphenol-A's rising concentrations in the environment require a sustainable alternative to current removal practices, which are expensive and/or ecologically unsafe. Switchgrass offers a safe alternative. to investigate its potential for BpA removal, two United States native switchgrass varieties where tested in hydroponic media. Results show minimal hydrolysis and photolysis of BPA over 55 days, confirming its persistence. Both generic and heavy metal switchgrass exhibited statistically significant (p < 0.0001) BPA removal (40% and 46%, respectively) over approximately 3 months, underscoring switchgrass's effectiveness for BPA removal. Significantly higher (p < 0.005) BPA accumulation in roots than shoots and nonsignificant variances in biomass, chlorophyll (p > 0.19), and peroxidase between BpA-treated and untreated plants indicates substantial BpA tolerance in both varieties. Kinetic parameters of BpA removal and translocation factors were also determined, which will inform the design of BPA removal phytotechnologies for a variety of soil conditions, including landfills where BPA accumulation is greatest. Discovered in the 1890s, as a potential drug, 4,4′-(propane-2,2-diyl)diphenol (bisphenol-a, BPA) was later found to be useful in plastic production 1. Manufacturing companies use large quantities of BPA in polyacrylamide, which is distributed to the public in food containers, baby bottles, and a variety of other consumer products 2. In 2012, worldwide BPA production reached an estimated 6.5 million tons per year, with predicted increases of 4.6% annually until 2019 3,4. In 2015, an estimated 7.7 million tons of BPA were produced, representing an even greater increase (6% per year) than initially predicted 5. By the end of 2022, production is estimated to be 10.6 million tons 5. Products containing BPA do not remain in use indefinitely, it is estimated over 450 tons of BPA are released into the environment annually 6. In 2012, the United States (U.S.) Food and Drug Administration banned BPA in infant products due to controversy over developmental toxicity risks 7,8. However, BPA is still utilized in the production of a variety of plastics for other consumer uses, including polyvinyl chloride, polycarbonate, and thermal receipt paper 9. Despite its widespread use, BPA has been linked to numerous adverse health outcomes, including infertility, tumor growth, and obesity 10-12. Bisphenol-A exposure occurs, since the potential exists for BPA to leach out of disposed BPA containing products into the environment through degradation, posing a risk to humans who accidentally consume BPA through food and/or drinking water and organisms who come into contact with polluted areas 13-15. Cellular functi...
