Work

Comparative genotoxic and developmental effects of bisphenol analogs on human lymphocytes and Lymnaea stagnalis

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Bisphenol A (BPA) is a widely used plasticiser known for endocrine-disrupting and genotoxic properties. Increasing regulatory restrictions have led to its replacement with structurally similar analogues, including bisphenol F (BPF), bisphenol S (BPS) and bisphenol E (BPE), whose toxicological profiles remain incompletely understood. This study evaluated the genotoxic and cytotoxic effects of BPA and its analogues using the micronucleus assay in cultured human peripheral blood lymphocytes and in the freshwater gastropod Lymnaea stagnalis. Moreover, physiological endpoints including growth and reproduction were evaluated in the snail. BPA induced the strongest genotoxic and cytotoxic responses, significantly increasing micronucleus frequency and reducing cell proliferation. BPF and BPS showed comparable effects, sometimes even higher for physiological endpoints, while BPE consistently produced the lowest biological impact. Our findings indicate that BPA substitutes are not necessarily safer and highlight the need for further investigation of their long-term and ecological impacts before their widespread adoption.

Source: Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology

DOI: 10.1016/j.etap.2026.105023

Authors: Alessandro Nota, Thomas Hesselberg, Alessia Pappalardo, Alfredo Santovito

Institutions: University of Turin, University of Oxford

Language: English

Topic: Carcinogens and Genotoxicity Assessment

Subfield: Cancer Research

Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,540