Bisphenol A (BPA) is an organic compound with the chemical formula (CH3)2C(C6H4OH)2. BPA is used to make certain plastics and epoxy resins; it has been in commercial use since 1957 and around 3.6 million tons (8 billion pounds) of BPA are used by manufacturers yearly. BPA-based plastic is clear and tough, and is used to make a variety of common consumer goods (such as baby and water bottles, sports equipment, and CDs and DVDs) and for industrial purposes, like lining water pipes.
Studies about the safety of using BPA materials in kitchen appliances are not 100% not conclusive, but mounting evidence suggests that in higher doses BPA could pose a serious health risk. Given the possible risk, many coffee maker manufacturers eliminated BPA from their products. This measure, however, does not constitute a safety guarantee, since many of the replacement materials could be even more dangerous than BPA.