Bisphenol A in Canned Carbonated Drinks and Plastic-Bottled Water from Supermarkets

Abstract

Canned carbonated drink and plastic-bottled water consumption is increasing rapidly. Bisphenol A (BPA) is used as a monomer and plasticizer in the production of packaging materials. BPA enters canned or bottled drinks through the liquid being in contact with BPA-containing material (e.g., the plastic bottle or resin can-lining). Exposure to BPA in drinks may lead to health problems. The aim of this study was to determine BPA concentrations in canned carbonated drinks and plastic-bottled water available in Thailand and to determine whether exposure to sunlight increases BPA concentrations in plastic-bottled water. Samples of ten brands of canned carbonated drinks, 21 brands of plastic-bottled regular water, and six brands of plastic-bottled mineral water were purchased from supermarkets in Thailand. The samples were selected at random. Plastic-bottled water samples were exposed to sunlight for 10, 20, or 30 days. The BPA concentrations in the samples were determined by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The limits of detection and quantitation for BPA were 30 and 70 ng/L, respectively. Two canned carbonated drink samples contained BPA concentrations below the limit of quantitation. The BPA concentrations in the other canned carbonated drinks were 83–340 ng/L. The BPA concentrations in all the bottled regular and mineral water samples that had been stored indoors were below the limit of detection. The BPA concentrations in the bottled regular and mineral water samples that had been exposed to sunlight remained below the limit of detection.