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117 Years of BPA

Many frames and lenses for eyeglasses are made from polycarbonate. (Bernd Kammerer - Associated Press)

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Sunday, April 27, 2008; Page A10

1891

Bisphenol A is synthesized by chemists.

1930s

Scientists discover that BPA is an artificial estrogen, but it is eclipsed by a stronger synthetic estrogen, DES. (DES is used until the 1970s, when it is removed from the market after it was found to cause reproductive cancers in girls.)

1953

BPA is used to make a hard, strong plastic called polycarbonate, a material that becomes common in a wide variety of everyday items, including water coolers, eyeglasses and baby bottles.