Migration of bisphenol A from polycarbonate baby bottles purchased in the Spanish market by liquid chromatography and fluorescence detection

Abstract

During the last decade the safety of bisphenol A (BPA) monomer in polycarbonate baby bottles has drawn the attention of both the public and the scientific community. This paper presents the results of BPA migration from polycarbonate baby bottles bought in the Spanish market, into simulant B (3% acetic acid), 50% ethanol and into real food (reconstituted infant formula). Furthermore, it was also the objective of this study to assess the suitability of 50% ethanol as a simulant for infant formula. BPA was analysed by a multi-analyte liquid chromatography method with fluorescence detection and mass spectrometry confirmation. The method was in-house validated and accredited by the national accreditation body. The validation results for this analyte in the previous mentioned matrices were: LOD = 0.004–0.007 mg kg^–1; LOQ (validated) = 0.03 mg kg^–1; RSD% = 3.4–5.8; and recovery = 106.6–118.2%. A collection of 72 different baby bottle samples from 12 different brands were analysed. Baby bottle material was identified by FTIR. The migration test conditions used were those recommended for baby bottles in the Guidelines on testing conditions for articles in contact with foodstuffs (with a focus on kitchenware), prepared by the European network of laboratories for food-contact materials. In most of the migration assays the results were below the LOD. In four of the commercial brands there was detectable migration into the simulant 50% ethanol and BPA was detected in only two samples of infant formula (0.01 mg kg^–1). Migration results obtained were in compliance with European Union regulations.

Keywords:

• HPLC
• LC/MS
• in-house validation
• bisphenol A
• baby food
• infant formulae

Acknowledgements

The study was supported financially by the Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (Project Ref. AGL2008-04146). The authors are grateful to Ms Marta Tello for excellent technical assistance and a critical reading of the manuscript.