Can bisphenol A exposure at age 4 lower your child's IQ at age 6?

What's actually in it

Bisphenol analogs (BPA, BPS, BPF, and others) are found in plastic containers, canned food linings, receipt paper, and water pipes. Children are exposed through food, drinks, and touching contaminated surfaces. By age 4, kids have been absorbing these chemicals for years through their diet and environment.

What the research says

A 2025 prospective cohort study in Environ Res measured bisphenol analog levels in 4-year-old children and tested their IQ at age 6. The researchers found that children with higher bisphenol exposure at age 4 scored lower on IQ tests two years later.

The effect was seen across multiple bisphenol types, not just BPA. This suggests that the newer "BPA-free" replacements may be just as harmful to developing brains. The IQ differences, while not dramatic per child, could have large effects when you consider millions of exposed children.

Reduce your child's bisphenol exposure by serving food on ceramic or glass plates, using stainless steel water bottles, and avoiding canned foods. Don't let children handle receipt paper, which is a major source of BPS.