Bisphenol-A

Bisphenol-A is also known as 4,4’-Isopropylidenediphenol, at room temperature it occurs as a white powder or in flakes.

Notes

The total amount of bisphenol-A manufactured within the EU, based upon submissions to CEFIC by the manufacturers, of 2005 was estimated at approximately 1,150,000 tonnes/year mainly produced to manufacture polycarbonate, witch is widely used plastic.

In water bisphenol A is moderately soluble, 300 mg/l, and considered to have a moderate tendency to adsorb to suspended particles and sediments. It has a very low tendency to evaporate into the atmosphere where most of it will be degraded in less than a day. In water and soils it is rather stable, althoug it can readily be biodegraded. It only takes 3 to 8 days to half it's environmental concentrations by biodegradation. 100% removal of environmental contamination can occur within 17 days.

Bisphenol A has a low tendency to bioaccumulate.

Bisphenol a has been shown to exhibit endocrine disrupting effects. In gastropods concentrations bellow 100 µg/l has been shown cause reduced penis sizes in males and enhanced oocyte production in females. The latter results in an increased embryo production at low bisphenol A concentrations. This effect has even been demonstrated in some gastropod species at concentrations of only 100 ng/l. It demonstrates a moderate acute toxicity towards aquatic species. Most species start dying at concentrations above 1 mg/l.