BPA

What is BPA?

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a synthetic industrial compound commonly used to make plastics and epoxy resins. Since the 1950s, BPA has been widely used to manufacture items such as water bottles, food containers, dental sealants, and the linings of canned goods. Its role is to provide durability, clarity, and resistance to breakage—qualities that made it attractive for consumer use.

The issue? BPA doesn’t stay locked inside plastic. Over time, it can leach into food and water, especially when containers are heated, exposed to sunlight, or reused.

What Health Effects Does BPA Have?

BPA is a well-documented endocrine disruptor, meaning it can mimic or interfere with the body’s natural hormones. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), and studies published globally, BPA exposure has been linked to:

Cardiovascular effects – increased risk of hypertension (high blood pressure) and heart disease.
Metabolic disorders – associations with obesity and the development of type 2 diabetes.
Reproductive harm – interference with fertility, altered hormone levels, and impaired reproductive function in both men and women.
Developmental risks – potential harm to fetal brain development, low birth weight, and other complications during pregnancy.

These health risks are particularly concerning because BPA exposure is chronic and widespread, affecting people through everyday items.

How Does BPA Get Into Tap Water?

BPA enters drinking water primarily through leaching:

Plastic bottles and containers: Over time, BPA seeps from plastic into the liquids they hold—accelerated by heat, sunlight, or repeated use.
Industrial pollution: BPA from manufacturing facilities can contaminate rivers and groundwater.
Recycling and landfill leakage: Disposal of plastics allows BPA to make its way into soil and water systems.

This means BPA can be found not just in bottled water, but also in tap water drawn from contaminated groundwater or storage tanks lined with epoxy resins.

Who is Most at Risk?

While BPA affects everyone, certain groups are more vulnerable:

Pregnant women and developing babies – because BPA interferes with hormones and fetal development.
Infants and children – due to smaller body size and higher sensitivity to endocrine disruption.
People with high plastic use – frequent use of bottled water or food stored in plastic increases exposure.
Communities near industrial sites – areas with plastic or resin manufacturing may have higher water contamination.

Regulations and Global Guidelines

Unlike heavy metals or pesticides, BPA is not tightly regulated worldwide. Instead, governments provide guidance and set precautionary limits:

The World Health Organization (WHO) and European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) recognize BPA as an endocrine disruptor and recommend minimizing exposure.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) monitor BPA levels but currently have no enforceable maximum contaminant limit in drinking water.
Countries such as Canada and members of the EU have restricted or banned BPA in baby bottles and certain food-contact products, reflecting growing concern about its risks.

The lack of uniform global regulation means BPA can still be present in everyday water supplies.

How to Avoid or Remove BPA from Water

Boiling water does not remove BPA—in fact, heating plastic bottles increases BPA leaching.
“BPA-free” plastics aren’t always safer—many substitutes (like BPS) show similar hormone-disrupting effects.
Safer alternatives include glass or stainless steel bottles, which do not leach chemicals into water.
Advanced filtration: Standard jug filters are not designed to reduce BPA. However, specialized nanofiltration and affinity-based filtration systems (like those from PuraHome) can remove BPA at the molecular level.

At PuraHome, our filtration technology is tested to reduce BPA and other microplastics from tap water, giving families peace of mind against this hidden chemical.