Investigating the Effects of Bisphenol-A on Planaria Phototaxis and Survival

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a potentially toxic plasticizing compound in various consumer products like food and beverage containers and toys. Research suggests exposure poses a significant risk to human health, leading to neurological effects, including anxiety, aggression, and cognitive defects. Planaria flatworms (like species Girardia dorotocephala), free living aquatic flatworms known for their regenerative properties and well-characterized nervous system, are valuable models for studying the impact of environmental toxins. Their distinct photophobic response to light offers insight into potential neurotoxic effects. While the impact of BPA on regeneration has been studied in some species of planaria, its effects on specific behaviors like phototaxis remain underexplored. This study investigated the impact of varying BPA concentrations (2, 4, and 10 ppm) on planaria survival and potential implications for their cognitive responses to different wavelengths of light. Our preliminary research suggests that worms treated with 4 and 10 ppm BPA all died within five days, while those exposed to 2 ppm displayed decreased movement and some death, thus rendering them unsuitable for further cognitive testing. Future research aims to identify a sublethal BPA exposure threshold for this planarian species. We will then apply phototaxis experiments to evaluate changes in light-induced behavior, which could serve as an indicator of BPA-induced cognitive and neurological dysfunction. These experiments will advance our understanding of BPA's neurotoxic effects with broader implications for environmental health research.