Can BPA from food packaging damage the placenta's protective trophoblast cells?

What's actually in it

BPA (bisphenol A) is absorbed from can linings, plastic containers, receipt paper, and many food-contact materials. Pregnant women are exposed daily through food and household products. BPA crosses the placenta, reaching both the baby and the placental tissue itself.

Trophoblast cells are the workhorses of the placenta. They form the barrier between mother and baby, manage nutrient transfer, and produce hormones needed to sustain the pregnancy. Damage to these cells can affect the entire pregnancy.

What the research says

A 2026 study in Reprod Toxicol exposed BeWo trophoblast cells, a standard lab model for human placental cells, to BPA. The chemical triggered a stress response called the unfolded protein response (UPR) inside the cells.

The UPR is normally a repair mechanism. When proteins inside a cell misfold, the UPR tries to fix them. But BPA pushed the UPR into overdrive through a pathway dominated by IRE1, one of three UPR sensors. When IRE1 stays on too long, it stops repairing and starts killing the cell instead.

BPA-exposed trophoblasts showed increased cell death and reduced function. They couldn't do their jobs as well: moving nutrients, producing hormones, or maintaining the placental barrier.

For pregnant women, reducing BPA contact means avoiding canned foods, not microwaving in plastic, and choosing glass or stainless steel for food storage. These simple swaps can lower the BPA reaching your placenta.