A Father's BPA Exposure Can Damage His Son's Fertility
NonToxCo Research
Science & Safety Team · 4/7/2026
It's not just moms who need to worry about chemical exposure. When fathers were exposed to BPA or BPS before conception, their sons had lower testosterone and damaged sperm.
Fathers Pass the Damage Down
A 2026 study in Environ Pollut exposed male animals to environmentally relevant doses of BPA (0.45 µg/kg/day) or BPS (0.15 µg/kg/day). These are tiny amounts, similar to what people encounter in daily life. Then they looked at the male offspring at puberty.
The sons had lower testosterone, impaired testicular development, and reduced sperm quality with higher malformation rates. Genes involved in sperm production were turned down. The damage was clear and measurable.
How It Works
BPA and BPS disrupted a key transport system in the testes called OCTN2, which moves carnitine (an essential molecule for energy production). Without enough carnitine, the cells that make sperm can't produce energy properly. Mitochondria shut down. Antioxidant defenses collapse. Oxidative stress builds up, and testicular cells start dying through programmed cell death.
BPS Is No Safer Than BPA
Both chemicals caused the same pattern of damage. BPS, the replacement chemical in "BPA-free" products, was just as harmful at even lower doses. Swapping one bisphenol for another didn't fix anything.
What to Do
Both parents should reduce bisphenol exposure before trying to conceive. Avoid plastic food containers, canned food with epoxy linings, and thermal receipts. Use glass or stainless steel. Explore non-toxic home essentials for everyday alternatives.
Also see non-toxic kitchen essentials for safer alternatives.