Impact of BPS on Health: A Study on Heart Function

Introduction to BPA and BPS

Research has recently focused on bisphenol S (BPS), a widely used substitute for bisphenol A (BPA), to investigate its potential health risks. BPA, detectable in over 90% of the population, has garnered attention due to its association with various health issues, including increased cardiovascular disease risk, obesity, and endocrine disruption. In response to significant health concerns, Canada banned BPA in baby bottle production in 2010.

Concerns Surrounding BPS

To address consumer worries, many manufacturers shifted to BPS as an alternative. However, studies reveal that BPS behaves similarly to BPA, with detection found in 81% of individuals tested. This raises an important question: “Is BPS a safe substitute for BPA?”

The University of Guelph Study

Researchers from the University of Guelph undertook a study to explore the effects of BPA and BPS on cardiac function. Their findings were published in the journal *Scientific Reports*. The study utilized mice, chosen for their comparable endocrine receptors and metabolic pathways to humans.

Methodology

Prior to intervention, researchers assessed the heart function of the mice. The subjects, both male and female, were administered treatments of either BPA, BPS, a combination of BPS and an estrogen-blocker, or a control substance.

Findings on Heart Function

The results indicated that BPA exposure led to decreased blood pressure in female mice within ten to fifteen minutes post-treatment. In contrast, BPS resulted in a significant drop in blood pressure within just five minutes. Notably, BPS exhibited a greater reduction in both blood pressure and heart muscle contraction capacity compared to BPA.

For male mice, BPS treatment similarly decreased blood pressure and heart muscle contractility, though the effects were less pronounced than those observed in females.

Conclusions and Implications

The study concluded that both BPA and BPS negatively impact heart function and blood pressure, with BPS acting more rapidly and significantly in females. Additionally, the research identified the estrogen receptor beta pathway as a regulator of BPS’s effects on cardiac function.

Lead author Glen Pyle stated, “We expected to find similar effects from BPS as we have with BPA, but not at the speed that it worked. This replacement chemical seems to be more potent. This study raises concerns about the safety of BPS as a replacement for BPA. If the heart is in a precarious position when you add a stressor you can make it worse.”

The researchers advocate for the removal of BPS from consumer products and recommend reducing reliance on single-use plastics.

Reference

Ferguson, M., Lorenzen-Schmidt, I. & Pyle, W.G. Bisphenol S rapidly depresses heart function through estrogen receptor-β and decreases phospholamban phosphorylation in a sex-dependent manner. Sci Rep 9, 15948 (2019) doi:10.1038/s41598-019-52350-y

Image Credit

Image by Willfried Wende from Pixabay