Bisphenols / Epoxy derivatives

BADGE in the bedroom

Bisphenol A diglycidyl ether (BADGE) is the epoxy resin intermediate that links BPA to many of the products consumers don't realize contain bisphenols. Two phenols of BPA are reacted with epichlorohydrin to form BADGE, which then becomes the building block for the epoxy coatings on food can interiors, the resins in dental sealants, the protective coatings on metal surfaces, and a wide range of industrial and consumer epoxy applications. BADGE itself partially hydrolyzes back to BPA under environmental conditions, meaning BADGE-coated cans contribute to total BPA exposure even when BPA is not deliberately added.

This page is relevant for anyone trying to understand why the "BPA" family is broader than the single compound BPA — and why food can linings remain a meaningful exposure source despite progress in other product categories.

At a glance

Chemical familyBisphenol epoxy intermediate — diglycidyl ether of BPA
CAS number1675-54-3
ClassificationIARC Group 3 (not classifiable); California Proposition 65 listed for BADGE hydrolysis products as reproductive toxicants; EFSA established Tolerable Daily Intake of 0.15 mg/kg bw/day for BADGE + BADGE·H₂O + BADGE·2H₂O
Where you encounter itFood can lining epoxy resins, dental sealants, protective coatings on metal, electrical insulation, some construction materials
Sleep micro environment relevanceLower direct sleep-environment relevance than BPA, BPS, BPF; primary exposure via food contact and dust; can deposit on bedding via sweat at low concentrations
Activated carbon captureHigh — bisphenols and bisphenol derivatives generally adsorb well on activated carbon and β-cyclodextrin polymers

Regulatory & certification status

Where BADGE stands across the major regulatory systems and the certifications a bedroom product might carry. Each row links to the governing instrument; where a jurisdiction has no specific measure, that is stated plainly rather than left blank.

European UnionBADGE (CAS 1675-54-3, EC 216-823-5) carries a harmonised CLP classification under Annex VI of Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008, index number 603-073-00-2: Skin Irrit. 2 (H315), Eye Irrit. 2 (H319), Skin Sens. 1 (H317) and Aquatic Chronic 2 (H411). No REACH SVHC Candidate List, Authorisation List (Annex XIV) or Restriction List (Annex XVII) entry for BADGE was identified. Separately, Commission Regulation (EC) No 1895/2005 restricts certain epoxy derivatives in food-contact materials, setting a specific migration limit of 9 mg/kg of food for BADGE together with its hydrolysis products (BADGE.H2O, BADGE.2H2O) and 1 mg/kg for its chlorohydrins. Regulatory — EUR-Lex · ECHA CHEM
United StatesBADGE (CAS 1675-54-3) is on the TSCA Inventory and was the subject of a 1994 TSCA Testing Consent Order (with an Enforceable Consent Agreement requiring health-effects and exposure testing); the EPA page documents only that order and indicates no current TSCA risk evaluation or risk-management rule for the substance. BADGE is not individually named on the California Proposition 65 list. The separate entry 'Diglycidyl ether' (DGE, CAS 2238-07-5) is a different compound, listed for male reproductive toxicity on 7 Aug 2009 and delisted on 4 Apr 2014. In an October 2025 notice OEHHA selected the 'p,p'-bisphenol' class - defined to include 'p,p'-bisphenols, and ethers and esters of p,p'-bisphenols' - for review of reproductive toxicity; this was a 45-day data call-in (under review, not a listing) and did not name BADGE individually, though the class definition (ethers of p,p'-bisphenols) could in principle encompass it. Regulatory — US EPA · OEHHA
CanadaHealth Canada / ECCC published a final screening assessment (2019) of the Epoxy Resins Group under the Chemicals Management Plan covering four polymeric substances (CAS 25036-25-3, 25068-38-6, 25085-99-8 [DGEBA epoxy resins] and 28064-14-4 [a Novolac epoxy resin]); dermal sensitisation was discussed but not expected to pose a health risk at current exposures. The assessment concluded these substances do not meet the criteria in section 64 of CEPA 1999 and are not added to Schedule 1. Note: this group comprises the polymeric DGEBA-based epoxy resins, not the discrete monomer BADGE (CAS 1675-54-3) that this record concerns; no separate Canadian 'toxic'/Schedule 1 determination specific to monomeric BADGE was identified. Regulatory — Government of Canada
AustraliaBADGE is captured in Australia under the IMAP / NICNAS (now AICIS) human-health assessment of diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A-based epoxy resins, which identifies skin sensitisation and skin/eye irritation as the principal hazards, consistent with hazard classification for those endpoints. No specific use restriction or ban on BADGE itself was identified beyond hazard-based classification. Regulatory — AICIS
United KingdomPost-Brexit, Great Britain retained the EU Annex VI harmonised classification for BADGE in the GB Mandatory Classification & Labelling list under GB CLP (index 603-073-00-2): Skin Irrit. 2 (H315), Eye Irrit. 2 (H319), Skin Sens. 1 (H317), Aquatic Chronic 2 (H411). No additional GB-specific UK REACH restriction or authorisation for BADGE was identified. Regulatory — HSE · ECHA CHEM
InternationalIARC evaluated bisphenol A diglycidyl ether in Monographs Volume 71 (1999) and classified it as Group 3 - not classifiable as to its carcinogenicity to humans (no human data; limited/equivocal evidence in experimental animals). No Stockholm Convention POPs or Minamata Convention listing applies. Regulatory — IARC Monographs Vol. 71
CertificationsCertiPUR-US: BADGE is not specifically addressed - the programme's prohibited-substances list targets certain flame retardants (e.g. PBDEs, TDCPP, TCEP), heavy metals, formaldehyde, phthalates and ozone depleters, not epoxy monomers, which are not foam-formulation chemicals. OEKO-TEX Standard 100: BADGE is not identified as a named/limit-value parameter on the restricted-substances list (which addresses, among others, bisphenol A, formaldehyde, azo dyes and heavy metals; the 2025 revision tightened the BPA limit to 10 mg/kg but did not add BADGE). GREENGUARD / GREENGUARD Gold: a low-emission chamber-test certification focused on formaldehyde and TVOC/individual VOCs; it does not screen specifically for a low-volatility reactive monomer like BADGE. None of these certifications was found to name BADGE in its published criteria. Industry — CertiPUR-US · OEKO-TEX
The 72-hour test windowLargely missed. BADGE is a higher-molecular-weight (about 340 g/mol), low-vapour-pressure reactive epoxy monomer that behaves as a semi-volatile migrant rather than a true off-gassing VOC, so a short (~72-hour) chamber emissions test does not reliably capture it; it is instead detected by migration/extraction and as a contaminant in dust and food, not by headspace VOC screening. Inferred — from the compound's volatility/emission profile versus the VOC focus of short chamber tests

What it is

BADGE is a colorless to amber liquid that polymerizes to form the durable, chemically resistant epoxy resin coatings used widely in food packaging and industrial applications. The chemistry: epichlorohydrin reacts with two phenols of BPA to produce BADGE, which then cures with hardeners (typically amines) to form three-dimensional cross-linked polymer networks. The cured resin is mechanically tough and chemically stable, which is why it appears in applications that require both durability and food-contact safety.

The complication: BADGE hydrolyzes partially under environmental conditions to produce BADGE·H₂O (the mono-hydrolysis product) and BADGE·2H₂O (the di-hydrolysis product). These hydrolysis products can further degrade to release BPA. The European Food Safety Authority groups BADGE, BADGE·H₂O, and BADGE·2H₂O together in a single Tolerable Daily Intake assessment because of this metabolic relationship.

How it gets to the bedroom

From food contact materials

Food can interiors are the dominant BADGE exposure source for most people. Cans of tuna, soup, vegetables, beverages, and pet food typically have epoxy interior coatings to prevent direct food-metal contact. BADGE migrates from the coating into the food, particularly with acidic or fatty contents — Cabado et al. 2008 directly measured BADGE migration from epoxy linings into canned seafood. The 2024 Jung et al. review of alternative plasticizers discussed similar migration patterns for non-bisphenol can-lining alternatives. Peer-reviewed

From dental materials

Some dental sealants and composite filling materials contain BADGE-derived resins. The migration into oral cavity and subsequent ingestion is documented in the dental materials literature; BADGE biomarkers spike in urine in the days following composite restorations.

From house dust

BADGE and its hydrolysis products appear in indoor dust at lower concentrations than BPA, BPS, or BPF, but with similar detection patterns and similar correlations with food-contact-material use.

From your own sweat (likely secondary)

By analogy to the Genuis 2012 BPA sweat-excretion data, BADGE and its hydrolysis products are plausibly excreted in sweat — though the specific BADGE measurement studies have not been performed. Inferred from Genuis 2012 BPA data; not directly measured for BADGE

What the research says

Documented health effects

BADGE and its hydrolysis products show endocrine activity in laboratory studies, including estrogen receptor binding. The full BADGE molecule has the additional concern of the reactive epoxide functional groups, which can form covalent adducts with biological nucleophiles — Ramilo et al. 2006 demonstrated cytotoxic effects on Caco-2 intestinal cells. EFSA's Tolerable Daily Intake (0.15 mg/kg bw/day for the BADGE + hydrolysis product group) was established based on a 2-year rat oral toxicity study; the TDI provides regulatory cover for food contact applications.

The 2025 Hayasaka et al. ECHO Program analysis grouped bisphenols including BADGE precursors with phenols generally and found associations with elevated preterm birth and SGA risk. Peer-reviewed

Open questions

BADGE-specific human biomonitoring is less developed than for BPA or BPS, though dedicated studies have characterized population-level urinary BADGE concentrations — Wang et al. 2012 measured BADGE and its derivatives in human urine from the United States and China, and Asimakopoulos et al. 2014 documented the same compound class in urine from Athens. Most population-level exposure assessments still include BADGE-related compounds in aggregated "bisphenol" exposure totals rather than tracking BADGE specifically.

What helps reduce exposure

Tier 1 — Most effective. Reduce reliance on canned foods. Fresh, frozen, and dry-packaged alternatives have lower BADGE exposure. For canned foods specifically, look for "BPA-free" and "BADGE-free" labels (when both are specified) or for cans with verified non-bisphenol linings such as oleoresin-based or polyolefin-based alternatives.

Tier 2 — Worth considering. Choose dental restoration materials without bisphenol resin where alternatives exist. Avoid heating canned food in the can; transfer to glass or stainless steel before reheating.

Tier 3 — Larger interventions. For households with documented chemical sensitivity, audit pantry products for BADGE-containing packaging.

The Embr capture system addresses BADGE and its hydrolysis products as part of the bisphenol family. The sleep environment is not the primary BADGE exposure route (food contact dominates), but capture of the residual portion that reaches bedding via dust and sweat is part of the integrated capture function.

What does NOT help

"BPA-free" can linings may still contain BADGE. The "BPA-free" designation typically means the can coating does not use BPA as a starting material. But BADGE-based epoxies that use the same chemistry can still be present. Reading the specific can coating disclosure (when available) is more reliable than the headline label.

Microwaving in plastic-lined containers accelerates BADGE migration. Heat increases migration from epoxy coatings into food.

Open research questions

  • BADGE-specific human biomonitoring needs further development to characterize background population exposure and inter-individual variability. Speculation
  • The relative contribution of BADGE versus its hydrolysis products to total bisphenol body burden in adults has not been quantified.

Citations

  1. European Food Safety Authority. BADGE Tolerable Daily Intake assessment. Regulatory
  2. International Agency for Research on Cancer. BADGE (Group 3 — Not classifiable for human carcinogenicity). IARC Monographs. Regulatory
  3. California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment. Proposition 65 listing — BADGE hydrolysis products. Regulatory
  4. Hayasaka M et al. (2025). Association of Prenatal Exposure to Phthalates and Phenols With Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes. O&G Open. Peer-reviewed
  5. Jung J et al. (2024). Uses and occurrences of five major alternative plasticizers. Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology. Peer-reviewed
  6. Genuis SJ et al. (2012). Human Excretion of Bisphenol A: Blood, Urine, and Sweat (BUS) Study. PMC3255175 Peer-reviewed — BPA-specific; BADGE inferred
  7. Cabado AG, Aldea S, Porro C, Ojea G, Lago J, Sobrado C, Vieites JM (2008). Migration of BADGE (bisphenol A diglycidyl-ether) and BFDGE (bisphenol F diglycidyl-ether) in canned seafood. Food and Chemical Toxicology. DOI 10.1016/j.fct.2008.01.006 Peer-reviewed
  8. Ramilo G, Valverde I, Lago J, Vieites JM, Cabado AG (2006). Cytotoxic effects of BADGE and BFDGE on Caco-2 cells. Archives of Toxicology. DOI 10.1007/s00204-006-0121-1 Peer-reviewed
  9. Wang L, Wu Y, Zhang W, Kannan K (2012). Widespread Occurrence and Distribution of Bisphenol A Diglycidyl Ether (BADGE) and its Derivatives in Human Urine from the United States and China. Environmental Science & Technology, 46(23):12968-12976. DOI 10.1021/es304050f Peer-reviewed
  10. Asimakopoulos AG, Thomaidis NS, Kannan K (2014). Widespread occurrence of bisphenol A diglycidyl ethers, p-hydroxybenzoic acid esters (parabens), benzophenone type-UV filters, triclosan, and triclocarban in human urine from Athens, Greece. Science of The Total Environment, 470-471:1243-1249. DOI 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2013.10.089 Peer-reviewed

Frequently asked questions

  • Is BADGE in my food cans?

    If the can has an epoxy interior coating, probably yes — unless the manufacturer has specifically switched to a non-bisphenol alternative such as oleoresin or polyolefin-based coatings. Major can manufacturers (Ball, Crown Holdings, Silgan) have moved partially toward non-bisphenol alternatives but disclosure varies by product. The Center for Environmental Health publishes periodic surveys of can lining composition by brand.

  • Does BADGE turn into BPA?

    Yes, partially. BADGE hydrolyzes in the environment to produce BADGE·H₂O and BADGE·2H₂O, which can further degrade to release BPA. The European Food Safety Authority groups BADGE and its hydrolysis products in a single Tolerable Daily Intake assessment for this reason.

  • Why don't more products mention BADGE on the label?

    Disclosure regulations for food contact materials focus on BPA as the parent compound. BADGE is a manufacturing intermediate and is not always disclosed in product labeling. The "BPA-free" label addresses the headline consumer concern without necessarily addressing the broader bisphenol epoxy family.

Related compounds

  • BPA — the parent compound; BADGE is its diglycidyl ether
  • BPS — BPA replacement
  • BPF — another BPA replacement
  • BFDGE — bisphenol F diglycidyl ether, analog of BADGE

This page describes documented chemistry and exposure pathways. It does not provide medical advice.

Last reviewed May 16, 2026.