Beverage Containers Research Articles

What would it take to establish a take‐back scheme for fishing gear? Insights from a comparative analysis of fishing gear and beverage containers

AbstractThe problem of marine litter represents a significant global challenge and illustrates the harmful consequences of an economic model that is based on disposability. The seafood sector is not only among the culprits, but is also among the most affected by this threat to the marine environment. Earlier research has pointed to fishing gear take‐back schemes as a measure to mitigate the problem, and policymakers have embraced the idea. The Norwegian scheme for beverage containers has been hailed as a benchmark for the application of Extended Producer Responsibility. Through the lens of business ecosystems, we draw parallels between the existing take‐back scheme for beverage containers and the latent system for fishing gear to answer the question: “What would it take to establish a take‐back scheme for fishing gear?” We elaborate upon four factors that are well established for beverage container take‐back schemes, but lacking or unclear in the case of fishing gear: (i) politico‐institutional support, (ii) the system's value proposition, (iii) the system integrator, and (iv) operational factors (i.e., a network of collection points and procedures, and material variety and complexity). Our findings highlight that when innovations are not based on the usual market mechanisms, unconventional conceptualizations of value itself and how value is mapped and distributed are required. Meaningful engagement of the private sector depends upon either explicit articulation of value capture or policy instruments to enforce responsibility; both are currently either unclear or lacking in the context of fishing gear.

Rancangan Model Bisnis Produk Berbahan Dasar Bioplastik Menggunakan Business Model Canvas dan Peta Empati

Plastic waste management is a problem because plastic is a material that cannot be decomposed naturally (non-biodegradable). Bioplastics are used as a substitute for conventional plastics because they degrade quickly and are environmentally friendly. One way to overcome environmental problems regarding plastic waste is necessary to make changes to the raw materials of the plastic. This study aims to analyze consumer wants and needs regarding bioplastic products and develop a business model design for products made from bioplastics. This research method uses the design thinking method with the stages of analyzing the empathy map and the business model canvas (BMC). The results showed that the market segmentation was dominated by people aged 18-25 years. In addition, respondents want the type of product made from bioplastics that are produced as a food or beverage container with good quality and durability and an attractive design. The marketing strategy that can be done is to sell products online and promote products at significant events such as expos and bazaars.

PHYSICAL ASSESSMENT OF THE CANADIAN STEWARDSHIP PROGRAMS ON EMPTY PLASTIC BEVERAGE CONTAINERS IN SASKATCHEWAN AND ALBERTA PROVINCES

Stewardship programs are gradually being phased out in favor of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes, which are used in various forms in different Canadian provinces. An example is the British Columbia province's EPR program on empty plastic beverage containers. Provinces like Saskatchewan and Alberta, on the other hand, continue to rely on stewardship programs and are in the process of incorporating the EPR policy as a program into their waste management regulations. Therefore, this study will discuss how stewardship program policies have helped to solve a portion of the plastic waste problem; however, negotiations to fully integrate the EPR program into Saskatchewan and Alberta waste management policies are still ongoing. The significance of this study has demonstrated how stewardship programs in Saskatchewan and Alberta have promoted the reuse and recycling economy of plastic management to a limited extent in these respective provinces. A case study method was used to analyze and investigate the stewardship program, with a focus on plastic bottle management. Field observations were conducted at selected recycling companies (Sarcan recycling and Alberta beverage container recycling corporation) in Saskatchewan and Alberta to correlate the data gathered during the investigation, as presented in this research outcome. Implementing the EPR program, according to the study's findings, may be the most effective way for Canada to achieve a circular economy of plastic waste management.

Planet Patrolling: A citizen science brand audit of anthropogenic litter in the context of national legislation and international policy

Anthropogenic Litter (AL) is ubiquitous in distribution and diverse in type and impact. Citizen science AL clean-ups engage citizens with the environment and have the potential to generate data that can inform policy. Here we present a detailed citizen science survey of AL across freshwater, terrestrial, and coastal environments of the United Kingdom (UK), coordinated by the not-for-profit Planet Patrol throughout 2020. Key materials, industries, brands, and parent companies associated with AL are identified. Plastic dominated AL (63%), followed by metal (14%), and composite materials (12%). The majority of AL (56%) had been used as beverage containers and non-beverage packaging, and 38.8% of AL was branded. Of the branded AL, 26% was associated with The Coca-Cola Company, Anheuser-Busch InBev, and PepsiCo. These three companies were associated with significantly more branded litter than any other. We place these data in the context of upcoming UK legislation and the Environmental Social Governance (ESG) statements of the companies associated with the majority of the recorded litter. Knowledge gaps and recommendations for AL surveying are made, and the focus of corporate and government actions are discussed.

Association of Phthalate Exposure with Endometriosis and Idiopathic Infertility in Egyptian Women

BACKGROUND: Phthalates are compounds found in medical supplies, cellophane wraps, beverage containers, metal can linings, and other products. They have the potential to be significant endocrine disruptors. In experimental animals, thereby affecting their reproductive capacity. Endometriosis is a gynecological condition defined by ectopic endometrial glands and stromal development. Exposure to phthalates has been linked to the development of endometriosis in numerous studies. The dangers of phthalates to women’s reproductive health and fertility have been widely reported. AIM: So far, the relationship between phthalates and infertility is not proven so we decided to see if there was a link between the urine phthalate metabolite levels and endometriosis or idiopathic infertility in Egyptian women. METHODS: Our research was carried out at the infertility outpatient clinic of the Faculty of Medicine of Cairo University. It included 100 female subjects aged 18−40-years-old. Group A (idiopathic infertility; n = 40), Group B (endometriosis; n = 40), and Group C (control; n = 20) were the three age-matched groups that were studied. Using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), the urine levels of mono-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (MEHP) were quantified. RESULTS: The comparison between the study groups has revealed statistically significant differences regarding the urine MEHP levels between Groups A and B. An analysis of the urine MEHP levels in the study Groups A and B has also revealed that the significantly higher urinary MEHP levels are correlated with the use of dietary plastic containers, the use of cosmetics, and the patients’ estrogen levels. Moreover, the urinary MEHP levels of Group A were associated with a history of abortions. CONCLUSIONS: Higher levels of urinary MEHP are positively associated with female reproductive disorders, specifically endometriosis, idiopathic infertility, and abortion.

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Acetic acid ingestion can cause chemical burns of the upper airways and upper digestive tract (mouth-throat-esophagus-stomach-duodenum) with the risk of development of respiratory distress, perforation, oesophageal strictures and systemic complications, such as coagulopathy, hemolysis and kidney damage. The initial symptoms include mouth pain, dysphagia and stridor. The first priority is an urgent assessment of the respiratory tract, and if the respiratory tract is affected, it is necessary to carry out final debridement, including anti-edema inhalations, steroids. An effective means of preventing renal damage as a result of the development of hemolysis as well as correcting methabolic acidosis is alkaline diuresis with sodium bicarbonate injections, with the control of urine pH. In those patients with a stable airway and no clinical or radiological signs of perforation, an urgent oesophagogastroduodenoscopy (OGDS) should be done within the first 24 h to assess the degree of injury and to make long-term prognosis. Effective methods of treatment are the use of proton pump inhibitors, H2 antagonists, antacids and antibacterial therapy. Grade II b circular lesions of the oesophagus tend to cause strictures. Мonitoring via OGDS is needed for 14-18 days after the ingestion as well as treatment of the developed strictures in a specialized surgical department. The main reason of acetic acid poisoning in children is its storage in containers for beverages. In this regard, we consider it necessary for pediatricians to regularly inform parents about the safety rules.

Flame retardant potential of Tetra Pak®-derived biochar for ethylene-vinyl-acetate copolymers

Food packaging waste-stream is a serious threat for current lifestyle sustainability. Among all the materials, Tetra Pak® is one of the most employed to produce food and beverage containers. Its composition represents a challenge for waste management due the simultaneous presence of poly(ethylene), paper and aluminum, wrapped together into a multilayered packaging. In this work, we report on the pyrolytic conversion of Tetra Pak® to produce alumina-rich biochar (BC), to be used as a flame retardant for an ethylene-vinyl-acetate (EVA) copolymer. In particular, the obtained biochar was incorporated either into bulk EVA through compounding or just as a surface coating. For the surface approach, a masterbatch of biochar and EVA was prepared and then applied to the surface of unfilled EVA specimens. Both the strategies turned out to significantly improve the overall flame retardant features of the copolymer: as compared to unfilled EVA, the bulk approach promoted a remarkable decrease of peak of heat release rate (-45 and -65%, for the compounds containing 20 and 40 wt.% of BC, respectively) and of total heat release (-16.9% for the compounds filled with 40 wt.% of BC), combined with a significant increase of the residues at the end of forced combustion tests; conversely, the surface approach was capable of delaying the time to ignition and the time to peak of heat release rate, depending of the BC amount: more specifically, for the surface-coated EVA with the lowest BC loading (i.e. 3 wt.%), the two parameters increased by about 34 and 21%, respectively. The thermal, rheological and mechanical properties were also investigated, as well as the morphology of the BC particles and their dispersion in the copolymer matrix. In particular, increasing the biochar loading promoted an increase of the stiffness of the resulting compounds, as well as a decrease of their ductility with respect to unfilled EVA.

Assessment of Bisphenol a in Umbilical Cord Blood and Maternal Blood

Bisphenol A (BPA) is an industrial material used to make polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins. BPA is found to leach from food and beverage containers. However, BPA is an endocrine disruptor that may interfere with the body’s endocrine system and affect development in infants and children. The purpose of this study was to determine the distribution of bisphenol A (BPA) levels in umbilical cord blood and maternal blood. Thirty maternal blood and 39 umbilical cord blood samples during pregnancy and delivery were obtained from the hospitals in this study, respectively. Results demonstrated the detection rates of plasma BPA in pregnant woman and neonates were 26.7% and 51.0%. The maternal BPA concentrations were 0.896 ± 6.80 (mean ± SD) µg/L, with a range from <0.48 to 71.7 µg/L. The neonatal BPA concentrations were 1.86 ± 3.24 µg/L, with a range from <0.48 to 26.8 µg/L. The present study showed the fetus was exposed to BPA through umbilical cord blood. Future research needs to focus on the effects of BPA on fetus growth and development. Keywords: Bisphenol A, Pregnant woman, Neonates DOI: 10.7176/JEES/12-3-01 Publication date: March 31 st 2022

Polyethylene terephthalate nanoparticles effect on RAW 264.7 macrophage cells

Plastic pollution is a major environmental concern due to its pervasiveness which continues to increase year on year, as a result of a continuing acceleration in global plastic production and use. Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is among the most produced plastics, commonly used as food and beverage containers. Once released in the environment, the degradation of plastic materials produces micro-and nano-plastics, with a particular concern about potential toxicological effects if they cross epithelial barriers via inhalation or ingestion. In this work, the effect of PET nanoparticles (PET-NPs) (≤ 250 d.nm) was assayed on mouse macrophages cell line (RAW 264.7) in in vitro experiments. Results showed that PET nanoparticles were easily internalized by the cells, 15 μg/mL of nanoparticles concentration had exhibited effects in cell proliferation and a slightly increased production of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS), which seems to trigger cell response as foreign particles related to upregulation of PCDH12, IGH-V10, ROBO1 genes, and cell maintenance functions, related to FTSJ2 gene upregulation. Thus, the RAW 264.7 results showed here are useful towards for a preliminary and understanding of the potentially toxic effects related to PET nanoparticles and complementary to other in vitro assays, as the first step into the development of the risk assessment framework.

A novel low-cost contactless capacitive evaluation approach for capping integrity assessment of food and beverage containers

Food and beverage (F&B) industries employ containers to package, store and transport ingredients/products. High-speed capping of containers is prone to defective sealing, which affects containment and subsequently causes leaks during transportation/handling. Currently, capping integrity assessment is performed either non-destructively inline using expensive equipment for specific container size (<20 L) and optical conditions (e.g. 3D imaging), or offline using low throughput invasive methods (e.g. leak tests). Hence, a low-cost non-destructive approach with high detection throughput for screening capping defects irrespective of container size and optical property is required. Herein, a novel container capping integrity testing strategy using a low-cost electrical approach based on capacitance of co-planar electrodes to assess differentiable capacitances for different capping defects (no cap, loose capping, tilted cap and content leak) is proposed to show the proof-of-concept. The system successfully detects no capping, loose capping, tilted capping and content leak in the capping region with good detection speed (50 ms) and low detection limits for both cap displacement (∼0.15 cm) and leak volume (∼50 µL on capping material and ∼75 µL on capping thread), respectively. Furthermore, the proof-of-concept was translated into a low-cost miniature automated decision-making system prototype to showcase the inline integration capability of the proposed system for screening defective caps.

State Preemption of Consumer Merchandise and Beverage Containers: New Strategy to Preempt Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Policies?

State legislators passed laws preempting, or prohibiting, local governments from regulating beverage containers. Although the primary purpose of these laws may be to ban local environmental regulations addressing single-use plastics, it is unknown the extent they also preempt public health policies aimed at reducing sugar-sweetened beverage consumption. In 2021, using LexisNexis, we assessed state legislation preempting local control over consumer merchandise and containers. We identified 8 laws (and 16 failed bills) with broad language preempting local regulation of the sale, use, or marketing of multiple container types, including beverage containers. Most legislative activity occurred during 2016-2021, with legislative intent to avoid a "patchwork" of local laws, avoid burdening retailers, and have a "refreshing drink." Local policy control was characterized as "personal choice." Broad preemption language may stifle local policy making aimed at reducing sugar-sweetened beverage consumption and preempt public health policies such as restricting portion size, in-store promotion and display, and labeling measures.

Intended and unintended effects of statutory deposit return schemes for single-use plastic bottles: Lessons learned from the German experience

Several EU countries discuss introducing deposit systems for single-use bottles to mitigate pollution. However, as an analysis of the German experiences indicates, the introduction of a deposit on single-use beverage containers might unintendedly compromise the endeavor to implement a circular economy. Such unintended effects need to be considered to enable the implementation of a circular economy that prioritizes reduction and reuse compared to recycling.High levels of environmental pollution and low recycling rates have triggered a debate on deposit return systems for single-use beverage containers (BCs) within the European Union. In 2003, Germany statutorily implemented a deposit for single-use BCs, which operates alongside a historically grown deposit system for multi-use bottles. The long-standing German practice can be used as a source of relevant experiences. These experiences show that the introduction of a single-use deposit is a double-edged sword: on the one hand, it caused an increase in return and recycling rates of single-use BCs. On the other hand, there were unintended effects on the long-standing multi-use system and, thus, on the endeavor to implement a circular economy where reduction and reuse are prioritized rather than recycling. It seems that the introduction of a single-use deposit system promotes a narrow mode of thinking and a focus on recycling, which hinders the revitalization of multi-use BC systems. The EU’s debate on single-use deposit lacks critical consideration of such unintended effects. The discussion of the German experiences might help to avoid unintended effects that hinder the establishment of a circular economy.

Comparison of the renal effects of bisphenol A in mice with and without experimental diabetes. Role of sexual dimorphism

Bisphenol-A (BPA), a chemical -xenoestrogen- used in the production of the plastic lining of food and beverage containers, is present in the urine of almost the entire population. Recent studies have shown that BPA exposure is associated with podocytopathy, increased urinary albumin excretion (UAE), and hypertension. Since these changes are characteristic of early diabetic nephropathy (DN), we explored the renal effects of BPA and diabetes including the potential role of sexual dimorphism. Male and female mice were included in the following animals' groups: control mice (C), mice treated with 21.2 mg/kg of BPA in the drinking water (BPA), diabetic mice induced by streptozotocin (D), and D mice treated with BPA (D + BPA). Male mice form the D + BPA group died by the tenth week of the study due probably to hydro-electrolytic disturbances.Although BPA treated mice did not show an increase in serum creatinine, as observed in D and D + BPA groups, they displayed similar alteration to those of the D group, including increased in kidney damage biomarkers NGAL and KIM-1, UAE, hypertension, podocytopenia, apoptosis, collapsed glomeruli, as well as TGF-β, CHOP and PCNA upregulation. UAE, collapsed glomeruli, PCNA staining, TGF-β, NGAL and animal survival, significantly impaired in D + BPA animals. Moreover, UAE, collapsed glomeruli and animal survival also displayed a sexual dimorphism pattern.In conclusion, oral administration of BPA is capable of promoting in the kidney alterations that resemble early DN. Further translational studies are needed to clarify the potential role of BPA in renal diseases, particularly in diabetic patients.

Sustainable Construction through Characterization of PET Bricks in Urban Areas

The Plastic especially that used for beverage containers generates large tons of daily waste, currently being the first waste material that accumulates the most in our cities. A problem that increases when one takes into account that it is a material that takes around 500 years to fully degrade. In recent years, the development of ideas in the use and recycling of PET bottles has increased worldwide due to the level of the ecological problem it poses. There are processes that reuse waste beverage containers for the elaboration of construction elements another of its magnificent advantages is the simplicity in its production process. They do not require firing and, unlike the conventional brick manufacturing process that joins cement and sand, for the manufacture of a PET brick the sand is replaced by particles of PET plastic from twenty waste bottles, with which we obtain a much more alternative ecological sustainable,

Interaction of various types of bisphenols with enzymes involved in melanin synthesis

ObjectivesBisphenol is one of the commercial chemical compounds which finds application in the manufacture of phenol, polyesters, polycarbonates, epoxy resins, etc. Bisphenol A is the most commonly found bisphenol derivative, although there are various analogues such as Bisphenol S, Bisphenol B, Bisphenol C, Bisphenol E, Bisphenol AF, which vary with their structures. Bisphenols majorly get into us by means of food as they are found in food packaging and beverage containers and can be easily absorbed by the body. They can make way into the body systems either by direct means like skin contact or by indirect means through food that is stored in a bisphenol-coated containers. Exposure of the human system to this compound may bring about mild to adverse ailments ranging from skin irritations to infertility. Pigmentation disorder is one such health condition that occurs due to melanocyte destruction and is caused by bisphenol exposures. They interact with various proteins and enzymes that have been involved in the melanocyte synthesis pathway, thereby disrupting their normal functions.MethodsIn silico analysis has been done to predict the interaction and other descriptive binding parameters when the bisphenol derivatives BPA. BPB, BPC, BPE, BPS and BPAF have been docked with some of the essential proteins for melanin synthesis such as tyrosinase, tyrosinase-related protein 1(TRP-1), dopachrome tautomerase/tyrosinase-related protein-2(TRP-2).ResultsThe interaction has been quantified with the binding energies, and the interacting amino acid residues have also been identified. The results showed strong interactions for both the proteins TRP-1 and TRP-2 with BPA. BPB, BPC, BPE, BPS and BPAF.ConclusionsThe risk and threats caused by the commercial products made of bisphenol are at higher levels, and thereby, the need for a safe and desirable alternative has been insisted.

Deposit refund system for beverage containers as a best practice example for recycling maximization

Packaging waste has a detrimental impact on the pollution of the ecosystem unless it is not managed properly. Many countries try to solve this problem by collecting beverage packaging before it gets mixed with other wastes and sends the beverage packaging to recycling facilities. In order to reproduce a packaging material, in the exact same form and quality as the materials produced from the raw material, the quality and status of the used material become rather important. Therefore, a specific method, among others, becomes prominent for the re-collection of the used beverage packaging, before these become wasted and contaminated. This system is called the “Deposit Refund System (DRS)”. In the DRS, each beverage packaging shall have a certain deposit value and with each purchase, the consumer shall pay that deposit value in addition to the product price. This system leads the way to a clean and effective collection of recyclable beverage packaging. The aim of this study is to draw attention to the importance of packaging waste, to introduce the Deposit Return System, which is the best management method of used beverage packaging in the world, and to introduce the reader to the main lines of the deposit return system we have developed for Turkey. In this study, we have researched the best practices of DRS and examined the implementation of the system. The methodology we used included a detailed examination of all the administrative, technical and economic processes necessary for the sustainable implementation of the subject. The success of the system depends on a clear structuring and outlining of the relationships, duties, authorities, and responsibilities of each stakeholder. Accordingly, the legal framework shall set forth a comprehensive framework, in order to regulate all procedures and principles relating to the DRS. The main outcome of the study is to determine the advantages of implementing the DRS in Turkey, for beverage packaging waste management. In addition, we analyze the governance models of DRS, where the DRS is run by an Operator. We examine the alternative governance models, such as state-owned and Public-Private Partnership (PPP) models other than “non-profit organization model” which is common in EU countries. We further elaborate on the financial sustainability of the PPP projects and how to create “bankable projects”. As an innovative model for the DRS, we created a well-structured finance model with a resilience revenue stream in the PPP option for long-term public services. The DRS is one of the best implementation mechanisms for the separate collection of packaging waste. In the countries where DRS is applied, recycling rates reach up to 98% for beverage containers [1]. DRS in Turkey can increase recycling rates up to 70% for PET, glass, and aluminum materials. This outcome leads more efficient and closed-cycle source management. The New Circular Economy Action Plan by the EU aims to design the entire life cycle of products while promoting circular economy processes, fostering sustainable consumption, and aiming to keep resources available as much as possible in the EU’s economy. Lastly, we also considered and examined other environmental benefits of the DRS in Turkey.

Poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate‐co‐3‐hydroxyhexanoate) with zinc oxide nanoparticles for food packaging

AbstractPoly(3‐hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) is a biodegradable biopolyester synthesized via bacterial fermentation from renewable resources that has received great attention over the last years for medicine and food packaging applications. However, it shows several shortcomings such as narrow processing window and a high crystallinity (&gt;50%), which leads to brittleness and low impact resistance. To solve these drawbacks, the hydroxybutyrate units can be copolymerized with other monomers like 3‐hydroxyhexanoate to yield poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate‐co‐3‐hydroxy‐hexanoate) (PHBHHx), a copolymer with higher ductility, improved impact strength, and lower melting point. However, PHBHHx displays lower crystallinity than PHB, hence reduced stiffness, and poorer barrier properties against moisture and gases, which is a disadvantage for its use as food packaging material. In this regard, (PHBHHx)‐based bionanocomposites incorporating 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, and 5.0 wt% zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles were synthesized via solution casting technique. Their morphology, mechanical, thermal, barrier, and antibacterial properties were investigated via transmission electron microscopy, tensile and impact strength tests, thermogravimetric analysis, water vapor, and oxygen permeability measurements as well as antibacterial tests. In terms of gas permeability, the optimum performance was attained at 5.0 wt% ZnO loading, with reductions in the water vapor and oxygen permeability of 45 and 33%, respectively. Conversely, the impact strength decreased with increasing ZnO concentration, leading to 25% reduction for the highest ZnO loading tested. The bionanocomposite with 5.0 wt% ZnO is a promising alternative to synthetic plastics, with an optimal balance of toughness, barrier, and antibacterial properties to be used in packaging and disposable applications such as beverage and food containers.Practical applicationsThis study analyzes the morphology, thermal, mechanical, barrier, and antibacterial properties of biodegradable nanocomposites based on PHBHHx copolymer and ZnO nanoparticles. These safe and environmentally friendly nanomaterials can be used as a sustainable alternative to synthetic plastics for food and beverage containers.

Implementation of Information System in Indonesian Traditional Beverage Businesses

This study aims to apply the information system to every business owner who can inform businesses beverage container business through information technology. The function of this information system's application is for business owners and customers interested in buying products business. This study is an application of information systems in the Indonesian Traditional Beverage Business. This study's method was conducted using qualitative descriptive writing method of collecting data through literature study and observation to the growing beverage business owners. Information system development is conducted using the waterfall method. The results of this study show an overview of how the information system is expected by the business owner as well as the beverage business impact that can provide the quality of the business product beverage business is being run. The conclusion is that there is a large information container such as a website application applied to the Indonesian traditional beverage business so that website visitors can see, buy, or provide suggestions or comments regarding the already available products

Determination of bisphenol A in commercial cat food marketed in the Czech Republic.

Bisphenol A (BPA) is one of the most widely used synthetic compounds on the planet. It is used in the synthesis of polycarbonate plastics, epoxy resins and other polymer materials. Owing to its excellent chemical and physical properties, it is used to produce food and beverage containers or the linings for metal products. BPA has been mentioned as a possible cause of feline hyperthyroidism. Cat food is considered one of the main sources of BPA intake. The purpose of this study was to evaluate BPA concentration in various types of commercial cat food available in the Czech Republic. In total, 172 samples prepared from 86 different types of commercial cat food were assessed. The concentration of BPA was measured using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Measurable concentration of BPA was found in all samples (range 0.065-131 ng/g), with the highest concentration (mean ± SD) of BPA in canned food (24.6 ± 34.8 ng/g). When comparing BPA concentration in food trays (1.58 ± 0.974 ng/g), pouches (0.591 ± 0.592 ng/g) and dry food (1.18 ± 0.518 ng/g), concentrations of BPA in food trays and dry food were significantly higher (P <0.01) compared with pouches. Comparing BPA concentrations in canned food of different manufacturers, statistically significant differences were found as well. The highest concentrations of BPA were found in cans. Thus, cans represent the highest possibility of exposure to BPA in comparison with other types of commercial feline food.

Exposure assessment of bisphenol A by drinking coffee from plastic cups.

Human exposure to plastic and Bisphenol-A (BPA) is very wide in food or beverage containers and baby bottles that have contacted polycarbonate and epoxy resin. Currently a traditional beverage in Arabian culture is served in plastic cups instead of glass cups in different occasions. To evaluate the possible BPA leach from the grade 5 drinking coffee plastic cups into the coffee and whether the use of plastic cups instead of glass ones to serve hot Arabian coffee poses a health risk. Oral administration of such coffee to three different groups of rats were undertaken. Each group consisted of 10 males and 10 females. The first group (G1) was gavaged 1.5 ml of hot water in glass cups. The second group (G2) was gavaged 1.5 ml of hot water in plastic cups while the third one (G3) was gavaged 1.5 ml of Arabian coffee in plastic cups. Serum concentrations of Bisphenol-A were measured 4 weeks later. Complete postmortem examination was conducted and representative tissue samples were subjected to histopathological evaluation. In the control group receiving water kept in a glass cup had 24 ± 2 μg/L serum concentration and the second group was 36 ± 4 μg/L while in the third group was 29 ± 6 μg/L. No significant postmortem changes or histopathological findings were present in the studied animals. Bisphenol-A can be leached from food-grade plastic cups into hot drinks within short period of time, posing a significant impact to public health.