What’s the Difference Among Microplastics, Phthalates, BPA, and PFAS?

Synthetic chemicals are everywhere—including in the food we eat, the water we drink, the products we use, the dust on our floors, and the air that we breathe.

Over the years, Consumer Reports has investigated many of these potential hazards in a variety of foods and products. We’ve identified per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in milk, cookware, and food packaging, and BPA and phthalates in packaged supermarket and fast-food products. We’ve also written about the microplastics all around us.

With all these acronyms, it’s not surprising that many readers may be confused about what these substances are and what risks they pose.