Fate of Bisphenol A in Terrestrial and Aquatic Environments

Abstract

Bisphenol A (2,2-bis[4-hydroxyphenyl]propane, BPA), the monomer used to produce polycarbonate plastic and epoxy resins, is weakly estrogenic and therefore of environmental and human health interest. Due to the high production volumes and disposal of products made from BPA, polycarbonate plastic and epoxy resins, BPA has entered terrestrial and aquatic environments. In the presence of oxygen, diverse taxa of bacteria, fungi, algae and even higher plants metabolize BPA, but anaerobic microbial degradation has not been documented. Recent reports demonstrated that abiotic processes mediate BPA transformation and mineralization in the absence of oxygen, indicating that BPA is susceptible to degradation under anoxic conditions. This review summarizes biological and nonbiological processes that lead to BPA transformation and degradation, and identifies research needs to advance predictive understanding of the longevity of BPA and its transformation products in environmental systems.

A Mechanism Investigation of how the Alloying Effect Improves the Photocatalytic Nitrate Reduction Activity of Bismuth Oxyhalide Nanosheets

“…In addition, the photocatalytic oxidation activities of alloys also be investigated and Bisphenol A (BPA) was as the model target compound. BPA is a relatively recalcitrant endocrine disruptor that is commonly detected in water . As shown in Figure b, all the alloys exhibited better photocatalytic oxidation activity than BiOCl and BiOBr.…”

“…BPA is a relatively recalcitrant endocrine disruptor that is commonly detected in water. [47] As shown in Figure 7b, all the alloys exhibited better photocatalytic oxidation activity than BiOCl and BiOBr. Among the alloys, BiOCl 0.72 Br 0.28 was also more effective for BPA degradation, removing 96.5 % of BPA upon visible light irradiation for 6 h (compared to 67.6 % for irradiated BiOCl 0.23 Br 0.77 and 34.1 % for irradiated BiOCl 0.48 Br 0.52 ).…”

Novel Fluorescent Fluorene-Containing Conjugated Polymers: Synthesis, Photophysical Properties, and Application for the Detection of Common Bisphenols

“…urine, blood, saliva) from the majority of people living in developed nations. 13 Such ubiquitous BPA exposure is concerning, as BPA is a known estrogen mimic and endocrine disruptor. 14 15 Regulatory changes and consumer-driven pressure over the health effects of BPA have caused companies to replace BPA with other bisphenols (BPs), such as bisphenol S (BPS, compound 2) and bisphenol F (BPF, compound 3).…”

Phytoremediation potential of switchgrass (Panicum virgatum), two United States native varieties, to remove bisphenol-A (BPA) from aqueous media

“…While the potential exists for degradation of environmental BPA through hydrolysis or photolysis, the quantity of BPA eliminated through degradation in pure water is not significant 4,20,21 . Rather degradation occurs only in the presence of humic substances, due to reactive oxygen species found in conjunction with humic substances 22 .…”

“…Rather degradation occurs only in the presence of humic substances, due to reactive oxygen species found in conjunction with humic substances 22 . A previous study found the half-life of BPA in surface water ranged from 66 hours to 160 days from photolytic degradation, due to water condition variation 4 . Further, the degradation observed over 160 days did not prevent BPA from traveling through the water system and harming aquatic organisms 4 .…”