Cull Megan E, Winn Louise M
Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queen's University, Kingston, Canada.
Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queen's University, Kingston, Canada; School of Environmental Studies, Queen's University, Kingston, Canada.
Toxicology. 2025 Feb;511:154040. doi: 10.1016/j.tox.2024.154040. Epub 2024 Dec 25.
Bisphenol A (BPA) is an organic synthetic chemical used worldwide. Billions of pounds of BPA are produced annually through industrial processes to be used in commercial products, making human exposure to BPA ubiquitous. Concerns have been raised due to the potential adverse health effects of BPA, specifically in vulnerable populations, such as pregnant persons and children. BPA is an endocrine-disrupting chemical, and through this function has been linked to reproductive toxicity. We review BPA's historical and current use, health and safety concerns and regulations, sources of exposure, and evidence for male and female reproductive toxicity. Evidence from epidemiological and animal studies idenfity that low- and high-exposure levels of BPA (prenatal, postnatal and adulthood exposure) can adversely affect male and female fertility and reproductive organs. While the cause of BPA-induced reproductive toxicity is not fully understood, we discuss BPA's estrogenic and androgenic activity, and its ability to disrupt the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis as a potential associated mechanism. There are significant differences in tolerable daily intakes of BPA set by global agencies, making interpretation of previous and emerging research findings challenging and inconsistent. Although BPA is deemed toxic by some government agencies, most do not currently consider it a health risk due to low populational exposure levels. However, we highlight evidence that even at acute, low exposure, BPA can adversely affect reproductive function. We recommend continuing research into the adverse effects of BPA on human health and revisiting the regulatory measures of BPA to limit exposure and promote public awareness of its potential to cause reproductive toxicity.
双酚A（BPA）是一种在全球范围内使用的有机合成化学物质。每年通过工业流程生产数十亿磅的双酚A，用于商业产品，这使得人类普遍接触到双酚A。由于双酚A可能对健康产生不利影响，特别是对孕妇和儿童等弱势群体，人们对此表示担忧。双酚A是一种内分泌干扰化学物质，通过这种功能与生殖毒性有关。我们回顾了双酚A的历史和当前用途、健康与安全问题及相关法规、接触源，以及双酚A对男性和女性生殖毒性的证据。流行病学和动物研究的证据表明，低剂量和高剂量的双酚A（产前、产后和成年期接触）会对男性和女性的生育能力及生殖器官产生不利影响。虽然双酚A诱导生殖毒性的原因尚未完全了解，但我们讨论了双酚A的雌激素和雄激素活性，以及它干扰下丘脑-垂体-性腺轴的能力，这是一种潜在的相关机制。全球各机构设定的双酚A每日可耐受摄入量存在显著差异，这使得对以往和新出现的研究结果的解读具有挑战性且不一致。尽管一些政府机构认为双酚A有毒，但由于人群接触水平较低，大多数机构目前并不认为它对健康构成风险。然而，我们强调，即使是急性低剂量接触，双酚A也会对生殖功能产生不利影响。我们建议继续研究双酚A对人类健康的不利影响，并重新审视双酚A的监管措施，以限制接触并提高公众对其可能导致生殖毒性的认识。
