Determination of bisphenol-A in reusable polycarbonate food-contact plastics and migration to food-simulating liquids

Bisphenol-A (BPA) is a principal reactant in the preparation of polycarbonate (PC) plastics and has been shown in in vitro cell proliferation studies to exhibit estrogen-like characteristics. Reusable baby bottles, water carboys, and other housewares are often made of PC. A high-pressure liquid chromatographic (HPLC) protocol was used to determine residual BPA in PC and BPA migrated to food simulants in contact with PC under controlled time/temperature conditions. Confirmation of BPA was performed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (CC-MS). Residual amounts of BPA found in PC food contact articles ranged from 7 to 58 mu g/g. In migration tests the plastic was exposed to water, ethanol/water mixtures, and Miglyol (a food oil simulant) in sealed vials at a constant temperature of 65 degrees C, for up to 10 days. BPA in food simulants ranged from 13 to 368% of BPA available to migrate from the polymer. CC-MS methods were applied to the analysis of water stored in reusable PC 5-gal water carboys. The amount of BPA found in the water ranged from ND to 5 ppb.