How do scientists measure if plastic containers are BPA-free? | Behind the Science, S3 Ep5
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June 24, 2018
Bisphenol-A, or BPA, is a plasticizer that's been around since the 1960s. It's used in polycarbonate plastics, that are often used to store food and beverages, such as sippy cups and water bottles. Some research has shown that BPA can leach from these containers into food or drinks. BPA is a health concern since it's known as an endocrine disruptor than can have negative effects on the brain and behavior of babies and children. BPA use was first restricted in 2005 in California, followed by more than half the states in the U.S., and the European Union banned it in all polcarbonate plastics in 2006.
How do consumer packaging companies test their products to maintain "BPA-free" label claims? VICAM, a division of Waters that develops rapid diagnostics and laboratory sample prep technologies for testing quality and safety in food and agriculture, has a new fit-for-purpose BPA test that pairs immunoaffinity chromatography to extract and elute BPA for subsequent measurement by LC-MS/MS. This combination protocol enables laboratories to accurately, precisely, and reliably detect and measure ppb levels of BPA in all kinds of substances or complex matrices.
See VICAM's new BPATest technology: http://vicam.com/bisphenol-a-test-kits/bpa-test, including a white paper on why it's time to revisit your BPA test method
See an example LC-MS/MS method from Waters, testing register receipt paper for BPA: http://www.waters.com/waters/library.htm?cid=511436&lid=134924124
Learn about additional analytical LC-MS testing methods for extractables and leachables in food contact materials in our applications notebook: http://www.waters.com/waters/library.htm?cid=511436&lid=134890337
