Human metabolic effects of BPA and the application of a hybrid photocatalytic membrane for BPA contaminated water

Abstract

Bisphenol A (BPA) is widely used in manufacturing various consumer products and detected in various water sources. Epidemiological studies reveal a correlation between BPA exposure and metabolic system disorders, including obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular issues. Experimental studies further support these findings by demonstrating the adverse impact of BPA on physiological processes, contributing to the onset of metabolic disorders. Despite its detrimental health effects, removal of BPA poses a formidable challenge due to its intricate molecular structure, resistant to conventional water treatment methods. To address this, our review comprehensively summarizes human BPA exposure data and in vivo/in vitro mammalian studies, offering a comparative analysis of treatment technologies with a focus on documented health impacts. Biological treatment removes BPA efficiently, however, maintaining ideal bacterial populations and controlling biomass concentration provide difficulties that affect operational stability and scalability. In the meantime, despite the high removal rate of physiochemical treatment such as absorption and membrane technology, they consume significant amounts of energy and generate chemical residues that could retain toxicity. In this regard, a hybrid photocatalytic membrane emerges as a promising solution, forming the basis for our comparative evaluation in wastewater treatment and water purification. By effectively degrading BPA and mitigating the BPA toxicity, the photocatalytic membrane helps reduce human exposure to this harmful compound. This technology presents a viable approach to tackle BPA-related environmental challenges while shedding light on its intricate metabolic effects on human health.