Bisphenol baby bottles

In the UK, the World Wildlife Fund environmental group has launched a campaign to phase out bisphenol A, a key component of polycarbonate, arguing that evidence is growing that it leaches out of baby bottles and the linings of food cans, and causes harm at much lower levels than previously thought. Industry officials disagree. Both sides of the debate are presented here. 

Polycarbonates are amorphous polymers with excellent handling properties. Their spectrum of applications ranges from baby bottles to compact discs. Most of the polycarbonate produced is generated by the polycondensation of bisphenol A with phosgene in a biphasic system (sodium hydroxide/dichloromethane). The solution of the polycarbonate product in dichloromethane is washed with water to remove the by-product NaCl. However, in this washing process some 20 g L 1 of the dichloromethane ends up dissolved in the aqueous phase. The dichloromethane must also be removed from the polycarbonate, which is not easy. This means that the polycarbonate will invariably contain some chlorinated impurities, which adversely affects the properties of the polymer. 

Bisphenol A (BPA) mimics the effects of estrogens, which can lead to health effects at high enough concentrations. BPA is used in polycarbonate bottles (see Section 21-16) and in some of the plastic linings of canned foods. Several countries have banned the sale of polycarbonate baby bottles and the use of canned food liners containing BPA because of their concerns that the polymers might hydrolyze and leach free BPA into the food orwaterinthe container. 

Felhofer et al. (46) reported an application describing the separation of five bisphenols (bisphenol E, bisphenol A, bisphenol AP, tetramethyl bisphenol A, and bisphenol P) by MEKC. It has been well established that bisphenols can reach the environment, and also the human body (47). Bisphenols are widely employed in the manufacture of plastics, especially those used in food and beverage packages, baby bottles, and water supply pipes. In this study, a univariate approach was first developed using a BGE composed of borate, SDS, and acetonitrile. The goal was to achieve the best separation of the... 

First point, the chemical reality, bisphenol A in a pure state is actually a product to be handled with care. Injected as such in laboratory to rats and at high doses, it is clear that it has negative effects on their body. But the chemical polymerization reaction traps the bisphenol A and neutraUzes it. Once entered into the composition of a polycarbonate material, for example a baby bottle, it becomes inert. It is necessary to heat the polycarbonate to above 100°C to observe the release of bisphenol A molecules. Therefore, what can be proved by experiments performed on rats which have been injected with pure bisphenol A ... 

Details A solid in flake, crystal or dust form. Used in production of epoxy-phenolic resins, monomer of polycarbonates (PC), an antioxidant for PVC, and as an inhibitor used during PVC polymerisation. PC are widely used in many consumer products, from sunglasses and CD to water and food containers and shatter-resistant baby bottles. Some polymers can also contain bisphenol A, and epoxy resins containing bisphenol A are common coatings used in food cans. 

Polycarbonate is a very tough (resilient) polymer from which objects with high levels of impact strength can be manufactured. This material is also so transparent that it can be used for glazing purposes like acrylic glass. Finally, polycarbonate can also be sterilized and has therefore been found suitable for applications in refillable systems for milk and dairy products. However, washing with hot water may split off bisphenol A, which can permeate into foods, for instance from baby bottles, so that... 

Aschberger K, Gastello P, Hoekstra E, Karakitsios S, Munn S, Pakalin S, Sarigiannis D. Bisphenol A and Baby Bottles Challenges and Perspectives. European Commission—Joint Research Centre— Institute for Health and Consumer Protection Luxembomg 2010. 

Brede C, Fjeldal P, Skjevrak I, Herikstad H. Increased migration levels of bisphenol A from polycarbonate baby bottles after dishwashing, boiling, and brushing. Food Addit Contam 2003 20 684-689. 

Ehlert KA, Beumer CWE, Groot MCE. Migration of bisphenol A into water from polycarbonate baby bottles during microwave heating. Food Addit Contam Part A Chem Anal Control Expo Risk Assess 2008 25 904-910. 

LiX, YingGG, SuHC,Yang XB,Wang L. (2010a) Simultaneous determination and assessment of 4-nonylphenol, bisphenol A and triclosan in tap water, bottled water and baby bottles, Environ Int, 36 (6), 557-562. 

Sun Y, Wada M, Al-Dirbashi O, Kuroda N, Nakazawa H, Nakashima K. High-performance liquid chromatography with peroxyoxalate chemiluminescence detection of bisphenol A migrated from polycarbonate baby bottles using 4-(4,5-diphenyl-lH-imidazol-2-yl)benzoyl chlorine as a label. J Chromatogr B 2000 749 49-56. 

Its real effects on health have been the subject of long debates, especially regarding antenatal exposure. ER-y found in high concentration in placenta would explain the high concentration of bisphenol in this tissue. This molecule is banned in baby bottles, toys, and children s food containers [37-41]. 

Draw a stepwise mechanism for the following reaction, which is used to prepare bisphenol A (BP/, a widely used monomer in polymer synthesis. Although BPA is not acutely toxic, safety concerns over low-dose exposure, especially in infants, have led to a re-examination of its use in baby bottles and infant formula cans. 

Recent concern about plasticizers in the environment and their toxicological effects have centered around bisphenol-A, a potential estrogenic agent that was widely used in consumer plastics including even baby bottles. This compound is discussed in Chapter 2, Section 2.15, and its structural formula is shown in Figure 2.21. 

Bisphenol A (BPA) is used to make polycarbonate, a clear plastic that is used to manufacture beverage bottles, including baby bottles. Washing polycarbonate bottles with certain detergents or at high temperatures disrupts the polymer, causing small amounts of BPA to leach from the bottles. Because BPA is an estrogen mimic, there are concerns about the harmful effects from low levels of BPA. In 2008, Canada banned the use of... 

Lateef SS. Analysis of bisphenol A leaching from baby feeding bottles. Agilent Applications Solution. Bangalore Agilent Technologies, Inc. 2011. 

Leo LW, Wong KO, Seah HL. Occurrence of residual bisphenol A and its migration levels in polycarbonate baby milk bottles. Singap J Prim Ind 2006 32 106-108. 

PENT-8 Reusable Baby Milk Bottle. Although polycarbonate (PC) has traditionally been the preferred alternative to glass in reusable baby milk bottles, health concerns with PC usage have been raised in some countries about possible presence of residual bisphenol A. The use of a high PEN-containing copolymer, PENT-8, has been demonstrated to provide a bisphenol A free substitute for PC. In Korea, Kolon has found that PENT-8 has adequate Tg (123"C) to withstand required sterilization in boiling water (20). At the same time, the lower melting point of PENT-8 (250°C) relative to PEN (268°C) makes it processable at PET melt conditions. 

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