News Chemistry

Another plastics ingredient raises safety concerns

Bisphenol A's 'twin' may have more potent hormone effects

By Janet Raloff

- More than 2 years ago

A largely ignored contaminant doesn’t just resemble bisphenol A, the chemical found to leach out of hard plastic water bottles. It’s BPA’s fluorinated twin — on steroids.

NONIDENTICAL TWINS BPA’s structure resembles a pair of spectacles with two methyl, or CH3, groups dangling from its bridge.