Material\nCycles, Environmental Emissions, and Ecological\nRisks of Bisphenol A (BPA) in China and Implications for Sustainable\nPlastic Management

Bisphenol A (BPA)\nis a high-production-volume plastic chemical,\nwith ∼98% of its usage in China allocated to producing polycarbonate\nand epoxy resin, and its fugitive release threatens ecosystems. However,\nknowledge of its anthropogenic cycles, environmental emissions, and\necological risks remains incomplete, hindering effective plastic lifecycle\nmanagement. Herein, material flow analysis, multimedia environmental\nmodeling, and ecological risk assessment were integrated to comprehensively\nmap BPA dynamics in China. Results reveal a ∼ 90-fold increase\nin BPA consumption between 1992 and 2022 and major applications shifted\nfrom optics and packaging to automotive, construction, and electronics.\nChina held ∼34 Mt of in-use BPA stock in 2022 (∼24 kg\nper capita), with no indication of reaching saturation. BPA release\noccurred throughout its lifecycle, and soil and water were primary\nsinks. Aquatic BPA concentrations exceeded the limit in national pollutant\nemission standards in ∼8.4% of Chinese mainland areas in 2022,\nand ∼4.5% of areas suffered very high chronic ecological risks\nto aquatic organisms. Scenario analysis indicates that a 90% reduction\nin BPA emission factors would be required to avoid BPA contamination\nin all areas of focus. Our findings contribute as a scientific basis\nfor sustainable plastic management and highlight the need for updated\ntechniques, intensified monitoring, and standardized regulations.