Occurrence and toxicological effects of the bisphenol F in aquatic environments

Bisphenol F (BPF) has been widely used as a major substitute for bisphenol A (BPA) in numerous consumer and industrial products. Its environmental presence is increasingly documented, with frequent detections in surface water, sediment, and sewage sludge across various countries, often at notably high detection rates and concentrations. BPF exhibits a range of adverse effects, including developmental toxicity, neurotoxicity, oxidative stress, and endocrine‑disrupting activity. It also disrupts the reproductive and endocrine systems by altering the metabolism or synthesis of endogenous hormones or through more complex epigenetic mechanisms. Given that BPF induces multiple toxicities, including effects on developing germ cells, such epigenetic alterations in the germline genome may transmit harmful consequences to subsequent generations. In this review, we summarize the reported concentrations and detection of BPF in the aquatic environments, followed by a review of the literature on its multifaceted toxicity of BPF exposure. We aim to provide a comprehensive assessment of its potential ecological and organismal health risks. Nevertheless, significant knowledge gaps remain. Future studies should prioritize environmentally relevant chronic exposure, mixture toxicity, identification of BPF‑specific biomarkers, and multigenerational ecological impacts.