Bisphenol A (BPA), a cause of concern, is a structural/key component in the manufacture of which of the following kinds of plastics?
Answer & explanation
Answer: (b) Polycarbonate
BPA is the building-block chemical of polycarbonate, the hard, clear plastic used in reusable bottles and food containers. It is also used in epoxy resins, such as the lining of food cans. The official agencies name only these two plastics as its main uses, so the other options fail.
- ✓ (b) Polycarbonate is made by joining BPA units, so BPA is a structural part of it. Small amounts can leach into food or drink, which is why BPA is a health concern (it can act on the hormone system).
- ✗ (a) Low-density polyethylene (carry bags and films) is not among the plastics that US and EU agencies name as made with BPA; they name polycarbonate and epoxy resins.
- ✗ (c) PET, the plastic of soft-drink and water bottles, is not among the plastics that US and EU agencies name as made with BPA; polycarbonate is the BPA-based bottle plastic.
- ✗ (d) Polyvinyl chloride is not among the plastics that US and EU agencies name as made with BPA; they name polycarbonate and epoxy resins.
Remember · BPA goes into polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins (can linings). It is a suspected hormone disruptor.
Sources
- US Food and Drug Administration, Bisphenol A (BPA): Use in Food Contact Application (archived copy) ↗ “BPA is a structural component in polycarbonate beverage bottles. It is also a component in metal can coatings, which protect the food from directly contacting metal surfaces.”
- US National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIH), Bisphenol A (BPA) (archived copy) ↗ “Bisphenol A (BPA) is a chemical produced in large quantities for use primarily in the production of polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins.”
- EFSA (European Food Safety Authority), Bisphenols ↗ “They can be used for example in polycarbonate plastic, a transparent and rigid type of plastic used to make water dispensers, food storage containers and reusable beverage bottles.”
- US Environmental Protection Agency, Risk Management for Bisphenol A (BPA) ↗ “BPA is a high production volume (HPV) chemical widely used in manufacturing polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins used in nearly every industry.”
Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper I (2021, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 1 Oct 2026 (how we verify). ·