Chemical BPA alternative 'linked to foetal brain changes', study reveals

In a groundbreaking study, researchers have shown why a chemical once thought to be a safe alternative to bisphenol-A, which was abandoned by manufacturers of baby bottles and sippy cups after a public outcry, might itself be more harmful than BPA.

University of Calgary scientists think their research is the first to show that bisphenol-S, an ingredient in many products bearing "BPA-free" labels, causes abnormal growth surges of neurons in an animal embryo.

The same surges were also found with BPA - though not at the same levels as with BPS - prompting researchers to suggest that all structurally similar compounds now in use or considered for use by plastic manufacturers are unsafe.

"A lot of the alternative chemicals have not been adequately tested because they don't have to be," said lead author Deborah Kurrasch. "A compound is considered safe (by the Food and Drug Administration) until proven otherwise."

The disruption of prenatal cellular activity in zebra fish, which share 80 per cent of their genes with humans and are considered a good model for studying human brain development, seemed to result in hyperactivity, according to the Canadian study, which was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

"Finding the mechanism linking low doses of BPA (or BPS) to adverse brain development and hyperactivity is almost like finding a smoking gun," said Hamid Habibi, one of the study authors.