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[[File:Bisphenol-A-Skeletal.png|thumb|right|Chemical structure of Bisphenol A]]

[[File:Bisphenol-A-Skeletal.png|thumb|right|Chemical structure of Bisphenol A]]

[[File:4,4'-(propane-2,2-diyl)diphenol 200.svg.png|thumb|right|Another structural diagram]]'''Bisphenol A''' (BPA) is an organic compound with the chemical formula (CH₃)₂C(C₆H₄OH)₂ belonging to the group of diphenylmethane derivatives and bisphenols, with two hydroxyphenyl groups. BPA is one of the highest volume of chemicals produced worldwide and has been in commercial use since 1957.

[[File:4,4'-(propane-2,2-diyl)diphenol 200.svg.png|thumb|right|Another structural diagram]]'''Bisphenol A''' (BPA) is an [[organic compound]] with the chemical formula (CH₃)₂C(C₆H₄OH)₂ belonging to the group of diphenylmethane derivatives and bisphenols, with two hydroxyphenyl groups. BPA is one of the highest volume of chemicals produced worldwide and has been in commercial use since 1957.

BPA is used to make plastics and epoxy resins.  It can be found in consumer goods, such as water bottles, sports equipment, CDs, and DVDs.  BPA is also sometimes used in making thermal paper such as that used in cash register and ATM receipts, although BPS is now becoming more common for this purpose.  Between such items, most people in industrialized countries have daily exposure to BPA.

BPA is used to make [[plastic]]s and epoxy [[resin]]s.  It can be found in consumer goods, such as water bottles, sports equipment, [[Compact disc|CD]]s, and [[Digital Video Disc|DVD]]s.  BPA is also sometimes used in making thermal paper such as that used in cash register and ATM receipts, although [[Bisphenol S|BPS]] is now becoming more common for this purpose.  Between such items, most people in industrialized countries have daily exposure to BPA.

The health effects of exposure to BPA are hotly debated.  Although many disagree, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has declared 50 micrograms per kilogram of body weight per day to be the maximum acceptable dose.  While almost everyone who comes in contact with plastics does posses some BPA in their bodies, it is almost always below this level.  However, there are conflicting studies, some of which point to there being serious risk from much smaller doses.<ref>"Bisphenol A (BPA)." Britannica Academic. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 2016. Web. 15 Jul. 2016. <http://0-academic.eb.com.www.consuls.org/levels/collegiate/article/598754>.</ref> Another issue is that Bisphenol A is often replaced with Bisphenol S, which although less studied is believed by some to be  more dangerous and more easily absorbed than BPA.<ref>http://naturalsociety.com/toxic-bpa-substitute-bps-chemical</ref><ref>http://saferchemicals.org/chemicals/bpa-bps</ref>

The health effects of exposure to BPA are hotly debated.  Although many disagree, the U.S. [[Environmental Protection Agency]] has declared 50 micrograms per kilogram of body weight per day to be the maximum acceptable dose.  While almost everyone who comes in contact with plastics does posses some BPA in their bodies, it is almost always below this level.  However, there are conflicting studies, some of which point to there being serious risk from much smaller doses.<ref>"Bisphenol A (BPA)." Britannica Academic. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 2016. Web. 15 Jul. 2016. <http://0-academic.eb.com.www.consuls.org/levels/collegiate/article/598754>.</ref> Another issue is that Bisphenol A is often replaced with Bisphenol S, which although less studied is believed by some to be  more dangerous and more easily absorbed than BPA.<ref>http://naturalsociety.com/toxic-bpa-substitute-bps-chemical</ref><ref>http://saferchemicals.org/chemicals/bpa-bps</ref>

==References==

==References==