**Bisphenol A: Understanding Its Health Effects from the Studies Performed on Model Organisms**

Papiya Ghosh, Sohini Singha Roy, Morium Begum and Sujay Ghosh

Additional information is available at the end of the chapter

http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.68971

#### **Abstract**

Bisphenol A [4,4′‐(propane‐2,2‐diyl)diphenol] (abbreviated as BPA) is a synthetic xenoestro‐ genic chemical and endocrine disruptor. It is a most common plasticizer that is used widely to produce epoxy resin and polycarbonate plastics, enters the living system through food and water contamination and generates health hazards. Researches are being conducted to explore the adversity that BPA exerts in living body, and for this reason, model organisms are of scientific choice. Rodents, zebrafish, *Drosophila*, nematodes, crustaceans and echino‐ derms are being used for monitoring the effect of BPA on their life history traits, nervous system, endocrine system, reproductive systems, behaviour, etc., which could help us to anticipate what kind of challenges BPA is putting in human life. This systematic review is focused on the latest research trend on BPA toxicity on different model organisms.

**Keywords:** bisphenol A, rodent, zebrafish, *Drosophila melanogaster*, invertebrates, reproductive system, life history traits, developmental defects, gene expression
