The Influence of Heterogeneous Container Materials Subjected to Thermal Stress on Bisphenol A Emission

Abstract

Bisphenol-A (BPA) has presented itself as a major carcinogen in many consumer goods. Numerous household products, specifically water bottles, contain high amounts of BPA that are potentially toxic when ingested. Research indicates that certain materials are prone to leaching high BPA levels under exposure to heat or extended usage. The purpose of this research is to investigate the impact of specific material types including stainless steel, tin, polycarbonate plastics, and aluminum with epoxy resins on human health. It was expected that if the material, polycarbonate plastic, is used to contain water and kept in a warm environment (32.2°C), then it will have the most amount of Bisphenol A production. 25 samples of stainless steel, polycarbonate plastic, tin-plated bottle, aluminum with epoxy resins were filled with 12 oz of water and heated to (32.2°C) for 12 hours. Afterward, Bisphenol A Indicator Iron (III) Chloride was used and BPA testing swabs and a color chart were used to test the BPA in each container. Results showed that polycarbonate plastics had the highest average BPA production with 6.344 ng/mL of BPA. The rationale behind this study is to raise awareness about the detrimental effects of BPA on the human body. A future implication of this research could be to help encourage the creation of BPA-free materials that are related to human consumption. Additionally, these findings could provide guidelines to create industry standards and policies to limit BPA use.