Can BPS exposure during pregnancy cause reproductive problems in children later?

What's actually in it

Bisphenol S (BPS) replaced BPA in many baby bottles, sippy cups, food containers, and receipt paper. Pregnant women absorb BPS through food packaging, canned food linings, and skin contact with receipts. The chemical crosses the placenta, reaching the developing baby.

BPS was marketed as a safer option, but it has a very similar chemical structure to BPA. Researchers have been testing whether that similarity means it carries similar risks.

What the research says

A 2026 study in J Hazard Mater exposed animals to BPS during early life to see how it affected their reproductive systems as they grew. The damage was clear and specific.

BPS triggered a type of cell death called ferroptosis in reproductive tissues. Ferroptosis happens when iron builds up inside cells and causes a chain reaction of fat destruction. It's different from normal cell death and harder for the body to stop once it starts.

Offspring exposed to BPS had damaged reproductive organs and signs of reduced fertility. The ferroptosis pathway was overactive in their reproductive cells, meaning the cells were being destroyed faster than they could be replaced.

The timing of exposure mattered. Early-life exposure, when organs are still forming, caused the worst damage. By the time the animals were adults, the harm was already done.

For pregnant women and new parents, avoiding BPS means going beyond "BPA-free" labels. Glass bottles, stainless steel containers, and silicone-based products don't contain any bisphenols.