BPA
Science & Engineering abbreviation · Chemistry
| Stands for | Bisphenol A |
|---|---|
| Categories | Science & Engineering |
BPA stands for Bisphenol A, a chemistry abbreviation.
Industrial chemical used to make polycarbonate plastics and the epoxy resins that line many food and drink cans. BPA can mimic the hormone estrogen, so its presence in food packaging and thermal receipt paper has prompted restrictions, and many products are labeled "BPA-free."
Example: The water bottle is labeled BPA-free and made from a copolyester.
Usage notes
Alexander Dianin first synthesized BPA in 1891, and its estrogenic activity was noticed in the 1930s. The FDA stopped authorizing BPA in baby bottles and sippy cups in 2012, and the European Union has moved to ban BPA in food-contact materials, with transition periods. Substitutes such as bisphenol S have raised similar questions.