A review of the carcinogenic potential of bisphenol A

Abstract

The estrogenic properties of bisphenol A (BPA), a ubiquitous synthetic monomer that can leach into the food and water supply, have prompted considerable research into exposure-associated health risks in humans. Endocrine-disrupting properties of BPA suggest it may impact developmental plasticity during early life, predisposing individuals to disease at doses below the oral reference dose (RfD) established by the Environmental Protection Agency in 1982. Herein, we review the current in vivo literature evaluating the carcinogenic properties of BPA. We conclude that there is substantial evidence from rodent studies indicating that early-life BPA exposures below the RfD lead to increased susceptibility to mammary and prostate cancer. Based on the definitions of “carcinogen” put forth by the International Agency for Research on Cancer and the National Toxicology Program, we propose that BPA may be reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen in the breast and prostate due to its tumor promoting properties.

Low‐Dose Bisphenol A Exposure: A Seemingly Instigating Carcinogenic Effect on Breast Cancer

“…Thus, these preliminary studies suggest that low‐dose BPA has the potential to pose health hazards. Recent studies have also aimed to evaluate the role of BPA in carcinogenesis,7, 22, 23 and have indicated that exposure to BPA may account, at least partially, for the increased incidence of multiple cancers, including breast cancer,24, 25, 26, 27 ovarian cancer,28, 29 uterine cancer,30 prostate cancer,31, 32 testicular cancer,33 and liver cancer 34. The carcinogenic effects of BPA are summarized in Table 1 .…”

Environmental endocrine disruptors: Effects on the human male reproductive system

“…However, the controls of the study also showed an elevated baseline of tumor incidence when compared to controls in preceding studies. In contrast, other studies showed that dietary BPA exposure was insufficient to result in TC or aberrant lesions in the testes of Sprague-Dawley rats [157]. Long-Evans rats exposed to low doses of BPA perinatally showed an increase in the number of Leydig cells and altered androgen secretion, although the development of testicular neoplasias was unexplored [158].…”

“…For example, while Wistar-Furth rats exposed to 250 ug/kg BW/day of BPA show a shorter AGD and other developmental defects [163], Sprague-Dawley rats exposed up to 40 mg/kg BW/day of BPA did not show any changes in AGD [162]; studies have suggested that the Charles River Sprague-Dawley rat strain is relatively insensitive to estrogen and therefore, cannot be used to detect low dose effects of BPA [191]. Different inbred mouse strains also exhibit different sensitivity to EDCs, as seen in the case of BPA [157]. …”

Preparation of Novel Fe Catalysts from Industrial By-Products: Catalytic Wet Peroxide Oxidation of Bisphenol A

“…Other applications include thermal paper, paper coatings and building materials [13]. BPA has been rated a high-volume production chemical with a global production rate of more than 5 Mt in 2015 [14]. According to the U.S. EPA [9], more than 1 million pounds of BPA leaches into U.S. environment every year.…”