REVIEW PAPER
Mechanistic actions of Bisphenol A and its analogues as thyroid-disrupting chemicals
More details
Hide details
1
1st Department of Internal Medicine, Bielański Hospital, Warsaw, Poland
2
Night Medical Care, ArionMed Hospital, Gostynin, Poland
3
Primary Health Care, MCM “Górna”, Łódź, Poland
4
Department of Internal Medicine with a Subunit of Intensive Cardiac Care, Stefan Żeromski Specialist Hospital in Kraków, Poland
5
Faculty of Medical Sciences and Health Sciences, Kazimierz Pułaski Medical University in Radom, Poland
6
Department of Internal Medicine and Nephrodiabetology, Central Clinical Hospital of the Medical University of Łódź, Poland
7
Department of Internal Medicine, Metabolic Diseases and Angiology, Prof. Leszek Giec Upper Silesian Medical Centre, Katowice, Poland
8
Faculty of Medical Sciences in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland
Corresponding author
Julia Delfina Latocha
I Oddział Chorób Wewnętrznych, Szpital Bielański, Cegłowska 80, 01-809, Warszawa, Polska
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Introduction and objective:
Bisphenol A (BPA) is among the most extensively studied endocrine-disrupting chemicals. Because its chemical structure resembles that of endogenous hormones, BPA and its analogues are capable of interacting with intracellular pathways, including those governed by thyroid hormones. The this aim of the review is to outline the molecular mechanisms through which bisphenols exert their effects, and to evaluate how these interactions may influence thyroid function.
Brief description of the state of knowledge:
BPA and its structural analogues are widely present in the environment, which has stimulated ongoing interest in their potential effects on thyroid physiology. Epidemiological studies suggest that higher concentrations of urinary or serum BPA may be linked to changes in T4, T3 and TSH levels, although findings remain inconsistent across populations. Experimental evidence from cellular and animal models provides additional support, showing that BPA can impair thyroid hormone synthesis, alter glandular architecture, and influence the expression of genes essential for hormone production. BPA has also been shown to interfere with thyroid hormone receptor activity, thereby modifying downstream signalling. Comparable effects have been observed for several BPA substitutes, including BPS and BPF.
Summary:
Available evidence indicates that BPA and its analogues can interfere with thyroid hormone signalling through multiple molecular mechanisms. Experimental studies demon-strate effects on receptor activity, non-genomic signalling and local hormone metabolism, while animal models support thyroid related effects in vivo. Human data remain heteroge-neous and suggest modest associations, underscoring the need for well designed longitudinal studies to clarify clinical relevance.
REFERENCES (49)
1.
Sharma P. Physical, chemical and biological properties of bisphenols. Pharm Sci. 2025; doi:10.5772/intechopen.114023.
2.
Bousoumah R, Leso V, Iavicoli I, et al. Biomonitoring of occupational exposure to bisphenol A, bisphenol S and bisphenol F: a systematic review. Sci Total Environ. 2021;783:146905.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scit....
3.
Park C, Song H, Choi J, et al. The mixture effects of bisphenol derivatives on estrogen receptor and androgen receptor. Environ Pollut. 2020;260:114036.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envp....
4.
Bernal J. Thyroid hormones in brain development and function. In: Endotext [Internet]. South Dartmouth (MA): MDText.com, Inc.; 2022.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/b... (accessed: 2025.11.15).
5.
Street ME, Shulhai AM, Petraroli M, et al. The impact of environmental factors and contaminants on thyroid function and disease from fetal to adult life: current evidence and future directions. Front Endocrinol. 2024;15:1429884.
https://doi.org/10.3389/fendo.....
6.
Gorini F, Bustaffa E, Coi A, et al. Bisphenols as environmental triggers of thyroid dysfunction: clues and evidence. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020;17:2654.
https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph....
7.
Liu J, Tian M, Qin H, et al. Maternal bisphenols exposure and thyroid function in children: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Front Endocrinol. 2024;15:1420540.
https://doi.org/10.3389/fendo.....
8.
Demeneix B, Vandenberg LN, Ivell R, et al. Thresholds and endocrine disruptors: an Endocrine Society policy perspective. J Endocr Soc. 2020;4:bvaa085.
https://doi.org/10.1210/jendso....
9.
Forner-Piquer I, Baig AH, Kortenkamp A. Disruption of the thyroid hormone system and patterns of altered thyroid hormones after gestational chemical exposures in rodents: a systematic review. Front Endocrinol. 2024;14:1323284.
https://doi.org/10.3389/fendo.....
11.
Xavier R, Gonçalves CA, Santos-Silva AP, et al. Bisphenol A increases hydrogen peroxide generation by thyrocytes both in vivo and in vitro. Endocr Connect. 2018;7:1196–1207.
https://doi.org/10.1530/EC-18-....
12.
Mohamed H, Rateb A. Histological and biochemical study on the toxic effects of bisphenol A on the thyroid gland of adult male albino rats and the possible protection by selenium. Egypt J Histol. 2019;42:667–685.
https://doi.org/10.21608/ejh.2....
13.
Milczarek-Banach J, Rachoń D, Bednarczuk T, et al. Exposure to bisphenol A analogs and thyroid function and volume in women of reproductive age: a cross-sectional study. Front Endocrinol. 2020;11:587252.
https://doi.org/10.3389/fendo.....
14.
Pei Z, Zhang L, Bao Y, et al. The negative impacts of bisphenols on thyroid function in adults with bisphenol A exposure exceeding the tolerable daily intake. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf. 2025;290:117790.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoe....
16.
Sabatino L, Vassalle C, Del Seppia C, et al. Deiodinases and the three types of thyroid hormone deiodination reactions. Endocrinol Metab. 2021;36:952–964.
https://doi.org/10.3803/enm.20....
18.
Milczarek-Banach J, Miśkiewicz P. The role of bisphenol A and its analogues as endocrine disruptors influencing the thyroid gland: a short review. J Med Sci. 2020;89:e441.
https://doi.org/10.20883/medic....
19.
Zhang YF, Ren XM, Li YY, et al. Bisphenol A alternatives bisphenol S and bisphenol F interfere with thyroid hormone signaling pathway in vitro and in vivo. Environ Pollut. 2018;237:1072–1079.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envp....
20.
Beg MA, Sheikh IA. Endocrine disruption: molecular interactions of environmental bisphenol contaminants with thyroid hormone receptor and thyroxine-binding globulin. Toxicol Ind Health. 2020;36:322–335.
https://doi.org/10.1177/074823....
21.
Wang Y, Su X, Wang Q, et al. Bisphenol A exposure enhances proliferation and tumorigenesis of papillary thyroid carcinoma through ROS generation and activation of NOX4 signaling pathways. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf. 2025;292:117946.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoe....
22.
Wang JY, Ning B, Chen YW, et al. Effects of bisphenol A on proliferation of thyroid papillary carcinoma KTC-1 cells. J Environ Occup Med. 2020;2020:712.
https://doi.org/10.13213/j.cnk....
23.
Ozyurt B, Ozkemahli G, Yirun A, et al. Comparative evaluation of the effects of bisphenol derivatives on oxidative stress parameters in HepG2 cells. Drug Chem Toxicol. 2022;46:314–322.
https://doi.org/10.1080/014805....
24.
Reininger N, Oehlmann J. Regrettable substitution? Comparative study of the effect profile of bisphenol A and eleven analogues in an in vi -tro test battery. Environ Sci Eur. 2024;36:900.
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12302....
25.
Rajkumar A, Luu T, Beal MA, et al. Elucidation of the effects of bisphenol A and structural analogs on germ and steroidogenic cells using single-cell high-content imaging. Toxicol Sci. 2021;180:224–238.
https://doi.org/10.1093/toxsci....
26.
Zhang Y, Yan M, Shan W, et al. Bisphenol A induces pyroptotic cell death via ROS/NLRP3/caspase-1 pathway in osteocytes MLO-Y4. Food Chem Toxicol. 2021;159:112772.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fct.....
27.
Nuñez P, Arguelles J, Perillan C. Effects of short-term exposure to low doses of bisphenol A on cellular senescence in the adult rat kidney. Histochem Cell Biol. 2023;159:217–228.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00418....
28.
Stanojević M, Sollner Dolenc M. Mechanisms of bisphenol A and its analogs as endocrine disruptors via nuclear receptors and related signaling pathways. Arch Toxicol. 2025;99:4025–4045.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00204....
29.
Hu C, Xu Y, Wang M, et al. Bisphenol analogues induce thyroid dysfunction via disruption of the thyroid hormone synthesis pathway. Sci Total Environ. 2023;900:165711.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scit....
30.
Silva FC, Miranda-Alves L, Fortunato RS, et al. Inhibition of type 1 iodothyronine deiodinase by bisphenol A. Horm Metab Res. 2019;51:671–677.
https://doi.org/10.1055/a-0919....
31.
Lee S, Kim C, Shin H, et al. Comparison of thyroid hormone disruption potentials by bisphenols A, S, F and Z in embryo-larval zebrafish. Chemosphere. 2019;221:115–123.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chem....
32.
Lee S, Kim C, Youn H, et al. Thyroid hormone disrupting potentials of bisphenol A and its analogues: in vitro comparison study employing rat pituitary GH3 and thyroid follicular FRTL-5 cells. Toxicol In Vitro. 2017;40:297–304.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tiv.....
33.
Cao J, Guo LH, Wan B, et al. In vitro fluorescence displacement investigation of thyroxine transport disruption by bisphenol A. J Environ Sci. 2011;23:315–321.
https://doi.org/10.1016/S1001-....
34.
Shah SM, Wahba M, Yu L, et al. Health impact assessment of sulfolane on embryonic development of zebrafish (Danio rerio). Toxics. 2019;7:42.
https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics....
36.
Guignard D, Gayrard V, Lacroix MZ, et al. Evidence for bisphenol A-induced disruption of maternal thyroid homeostasis in the pregnantewe at low level representative of human exposure. Chemosphere. 2017;182:458–467.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chem....
37.
Vandenberg LN, Colborn T, Hayes TB, et al. Hormones and endocrine-disrupting chemicals: low-dose effects and nonmonotonic dose responses. Endocr Rev. 2012;33:378–455.
https://doi.org/10.1210/er.201....
38.
Vandenberg LN, Colborn T, Hayes TB, et al. Urinary, circulating and tissue biomonitoring studies indicate widespread exposure to bisphenol A. Environ Health Perspect. 2010;118:1055–1070.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.go....
39.
Wang N, Zhou Y, Fu C, et al. Influence of bisphenol A on thyroid volume and structure independent of iodine in school children. PLoS One. 2015;10:e0141248.
https://doi.org/10.1371/journa....
40.
Aung MT, Johns LE, Ferguson KK, et al. Thyroid hormone parameters during pregnancy in relation to urinary bisphenol A concentrations: a repeated measures study. Environ Int. 2017;104:33–40.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envi....
41.
Przybyla J, Geldhof GJ, Smit E, et al. A cross-sectional study of urinary phthalates, phenols and perchlorate on thyroid hormones in US adults using structural equation models. Environ Res. 2018;163:26–35.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envr....
42.
Minatoya M, Sasaki S, Araki A, et al. Cord blood bisphenol A levels and reproductive and thyroid hormone levels of neonates: the Hokkaido study on environment and children’s health. Epidemiology. 2017;28(Suppl 1):S3–S9.[
https://doi.org/10.1097/EDE.00....
43.
Wang T, Lu J, Xu M, et al. Urinary bisphenol A concentration and thyroid function in Chinese adults. Epidemiology. 2013;24:295–302.
https://doi.org/10.1097/EDE.0b....
44.
Chevrier J, Gunier RB, Bradman A, et al. Maternal urinary bisphenol A during pregnancy and maternal and neonatal thyroid function in the CHAMACOS study. Environ Health Perspect. 2013;121:138–144.
https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.12....
45.
Stillwater BJ, Bull AC, Romagnolo DF, et al. Bisphenols and risk of breast cancer: a narrative review of the impact of diet and bioactive food components. Front Nutr. 2020;7:581388.
https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2....
46.
Thoene M, Zglejc-Waszak K, Jozwik M, et al. Bisphenol A promotes the progression of hormone-sensitive breast cancers through inflammatory pathways. Cancers. 2025;17:2373.
https://doi.org/10.3390/cancer....
48.
Jiang W, Ding K, Huang W, et al. Potential effects of bisphenol A on diabetes mellitus and its chronic complications: a narrative review. Heliyon. 2023;9:e16340.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heli....
49.
García García M, Picó Y, Morales-Suárez-Varela M. Effects of bisphenol A on the risk of developing obesity. Nutrients. 2024;16:3740.
https://doi.org/10.3390/nu1621....