Bisphenol M (BPM) in food: ingestion safety
Low risk(People-specific data is limited; this page draws from human adult context.) Bisphenol M (BPM; CAS 13595-25-0) presents a low risk to human adults at current ambient exposure levels, which are expected to be lower than BPA exposures. BPM's estrogenic and antiandrogenic activity in in vitro systems is documented but in vivo human exposure studies are limited. BPM has been detected in human urine in biomonitoring studies, indicating real-world exposure pathways including food contact material migration, dust ingestion, and dermal contact. In the absence of IARC, EFSA, or EPA individual risk assessments, risk extrapolation relies on in vitro mechanistic data and the well-characterized BPA class framework. The limited reproductive and developmental in vivo toxicology database for BPM makes definitive human health assessment difficult at this time.
What is bisphenol m (bpm)?
The IUPAC name is 4-[2-[3-[2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)propan-2-yl]phenyl]propan-2-yl]phenol.
Also known as: 4-[2-[3-[2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)propan-2-yl]phenyl]propan-2-yl]phenol, 1,3-Bis[2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-propyl]benzene, Bisphenol M, Phenol, 4,4'-[1,3-phenylenebis(1-methylethylidene)]bis-.
- IUPAC name
- 4-[2-[3-[2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)propan-2-yl]phenyl]propan-2-yl]phenol
- CAS number
- 13595-25-0
- Molecular formula
- C24H26O2
- Molecular weight
- 346.5 g/mol
- SMILES
- CC(C)(C1=CC=C(C=C1)O)C2=CC(=CC=C2)C(C)(C)C3=CC=C(C=C3)O
- PubChem CID
- 3292100
Risk for people
Low riskBisphenol M (BPM; CAS 13595-25-0) presents a low risk to human adults at current ambient exposure levels, which are expected to be lower than BPA exposures. BPM's estrogenic and antiandrogenic activity in in vitro systems is documented but in vivo human exposure studies are limited. BPM has been detected in human urine in biomonitoring studies, indicating real-world exposure pathways including food contact material migration, dust ingestion, and dermal contact. In the absence of IARC, EFSA, or EPA individual risk assessments, risk extrapolation relies on in vitro mechanistic data and the well-characterized BPA class framework. The limited reproductive and developmental in vivo toxicology database for BPM makes definitive human health assessment difficult at this time.
Regulatory consensus
3 regulatory and scientific bodies have classified Bisphenol M (BPM). The classifications differ — that's the data.
| Agency | Year | Classification | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| ECHA (BPM not individually classified for carcinogenicity; bisphenol dimethylphenyl analog with documented estrogenic and antiandrogenic activity; among detected environmental BPA substitutes in surface water and sediment biomonitoring; no IARC, EFSA, NTP, or US EPA individual carcinogenicity classification; limited individual regulatory toxicology assessment; REACH Regulation monitoring for emerging bisphenol analogs) | 2022 | no carcinogenicity classification; bisphenol analog with estrogenic and antiandrogenic activity; increasing environmental detection as BPA alternative; not classified by IARC, EFSA, NTP, or US EPA | |
| EPA CTX / Genetox | — | Genotoxicity: negative (single report) (Ames: None, 0 positive / 1 negative reports) | |
| EPA CTX / Genetox | — | Genotoxicity: negative (single report) (Ames: None, 0 positive / 1 negative reports) |
Regulators apply different standards of evidence — animal-data weighting, exposure-pattern assumptions, epidemiological power thresholds — which is why two scientific bodies can review the same data and reach different conclusions. The disagreement is the data.
Where you encounter bisphenol m (bpm)
- Consumer Products — Plastic bottles and containers, Food packaging, Plastic toys and household items
- Drinking Water — Leaching from plastic pipes, Migration from bottled water containers
- Indoor Environments — Off-gassing from plastic furniture, Degradation of plastic products
Safer alternatives
Lower-risk approaches that achieve a similar outcome to Bisphenol M (BPM):
-
NSF-certified activated carbon filtration
Trade-offs: Does not remove all contaminants. Requires filter replacement.Relative cost: 2-5× conventional
Frequently asked questions
What products contain bisphenol m (bpm)?
Bisphenol M (BPM) appears in: Plastic bottles and containers (Consumer products); Food packaging (Consumer products); Leaching from plastic pipes (Drinking water); Migration from bottled water containers (Drinking water); Off-gassing from plastic furniture (Indoor environments).
Why do regulators disagree about bisphenol m (bpm)?
Bisphenol M (BPM) has been classified by 3 agencies including ECHA (BPM not individually classified for carcinogenicity; bisphenol dimethylphenyl analog with documented estrogenic and antiandrogenic activity; among detected environmental BPA substitutes in surface water and sediment biomonitoring; no IARC, EFSA, NTP, or US EPA individual carcinogenicity classification; limited individual regulatory toxicology assessment; REACH Regulation monitoring for emerging bisphenol analogs), EPA CTX / Genetox, EPA CTX / Genetox, with differing conclusions. Regulators apply different standards of evidence (animal data weighting, exposure-pattern assumptions, epidemiological power thresholds), which is why two scientific bodies can review the same data and reach different conclusions. See the regulatory consensus table on this page for the full picture.
See Bisphenol M (BPM) in the food app
Look up products containing bisphenol m (bpm), compare to alternatives, and explore the full data record.
Open in food View raw API dataSources (1)
- ECHA REACH BPM Bisphenol TMC 13595-25-0; Estrogenic Antiandrogenic In Vitro Activity; Environmental Detection Surface Water ng/L; BPA Regrettable Substitution; No IARC EFSA NTP EPA Carcinogenicity Classification; Limited In Vivo Toxicology Database (2022) — regulatory
Reference data, not professional advice. Aggregates publicly available regulatory and scientific data; not a substitute for veterinary, medical, legal, or regulatory advice. Why we built ALETHEIA →