Toxicity of bisphenol analogues on the reproductive, nervous, and immune systems, and their relationships to gut microbiome and metabolism: insights from a multi-species comparison

• Published in: Critical reviews in toxicology Vol. 51; no. 4; pp. 283 - 300
• Main Authors: McDonough, Callie M., Xu, Hannah Shibo, Guo, Tai L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Taylor & Francis 21.04.2021
• Subjects: Bisphenol A; bisphenol F; bisphenol S; endocrine-disrupting chemical; immunotoxicity; metabolic toxicity; microbiome; neurotoxicity; reproductive toxicity; Bisphenol A; bisphenol F; metabolic toxicity; neurotoxicity; reproductive toxicity; immunotoxicity; endocrine-disrupting chemical; bisphenol S; microbiome
• ISSN: 1040-8444; 1547-6898; 1547-6898
• DOI: 10.1080/10408444.2021.1908224

Bisphenols are common chemicals found in plastics and epoxy resins. Over the past decades, many studies have shown that bisphenol A (BPA) is a potential endocrine-disrupting chemical that may cause multisystem toxicity. However, the relative safety of BPA analogues is a controversial subject. Herein, we conducted a review of the reproductive toxicity, neurotoxicity, immunotoxicity, metabolic toxicity and gut microbiome toxicity of the BPA analogues in various species, including Caenorhabditis elegans, zebrafish, turtles, sheep, rodents, and humans. In addition, the mechanisms of action were discussed with focus on bisphenol S and bisphenol F. It was found that these BPA analogues exert their toxic effects on different organs and systems through various mechanisms including epigenetic modifications and effects on cell signaling pathways, microbiome, and metabolome in different species. More research is needed to study the relative toxicity of the lesser-known BPA analogues compared to BPA, both systemically and organ specifically, and to better define the underlying mechanisms of action, in particular, the potentials of disrupting microbiome and metabolism.