Can BPA replacement chemicals in plastics cross the placenta to reach the baby?

What's actually in it

When BPA was restricted, manufacturers replaced it with other bisphenols: BPS, BPF, BPAF, BPAP, and others. These chemicals are structurally similar to BPA and are used in "BPA-free" plastics, food containers, and thermal paper. They have the same estrogenic activity as BPA in many lab tests.

What the research says

A 2026 study in Environment International measured multiple bisphenol compounds in maternal blood, cord blood, and placental tissue. Every bisphenol compound tested was detected in fetal-side cord blood and placental tissue, confirming that all of them cross the placenta.

Some emerging bisphenols were found in higher concentrations on the fetal side than in maternal blood, suggesting active transport across the placenta rather than simple diffusion. This is a concerning finding because it means the fetus may be getting more exposure than even the mother's blood levels would suggest.

The researchers found BPAF and BPAP at particularly high concentrations relative to BPA. These are compounds that many consumers have never heard of, because they're only in the chemical fine print of ingredient lists. The "BPA-free" label doesn't mean bisphenol-free: it just means one specific bisphenol has been swapped for others that carry the same risks.