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Can BPA leaching from baby bottles and take‐out containers contribute to the obesity epidemic?
Author(s) -
Tarasenko Alexandra,
Benitez Benedetta Sampoli
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.27.1_supplement.564.2
Subject(s) - leaching (pedology) , bisphenol a , chemistry , endocrine disruptor , environmental chemistry , food science , environmental science , endocrine system , organic chemistry , biochemistry , hormone , soil science , epoxy , soil water
The prevalence of obesity has increased dramatically in the last two decades. Several studies suggest a link between Bisphenol‐A (BPA) exposure and obesity. Although BPA is banned now in baby bottles, many children could have been exposed to large amounts of this chemical by its leaching in baby bottles upon heat stress. BPA is commonly found in polycarbonate plastics and behaves as an endocrine disruptor at concentrations well below toxic levels. This study looks at the amount of BPA leaching in various baby bottles, upon microwave heating and boiling. Our samples include baby bottles from different years and foreign markets and BPA amounts were determined by an ELISA assay specific for BPA. Our results show that the baby bottles used to leach a concerning amount of BPA and that this leaching became more significant with repeated heating. When baby bottles were heated by water‐bath instead of microwaving, the amount of leaching was considerably less. A possible explanation for this phenomenon will be presented. Take‐out containers were also found to leach BPA. The amount of BPA leeched was found to be significant; however, this amount was not as high as in baby bottles non‐marketed as BPA‐free. In conclusion, the amount of leaching in baby bottles was high enough to suggest a possible source of BPA linked to the development of obesity. Research supported by the congressionally directed grant #P116Z10068A.