Women living in an illegally polluted region of Italy are more likely to have birth defects, possibly due to accelerated ageing of their cells.

Migration of the potential endocrine disrupter, bisphenol A (BPA), from 31 polycarbonate (PC) baby bottles into aqueous food simulants was studied under real repetitive use, using a sensitive and fully validated liquid chromatographic method with fluorescence detection. Confirmation of the presence of BPA was performed by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). The effects of cleaning in a dishwasher or with a brush, sterilization with boiling water and the temperature of migration were examined.

Baby bottles are often made of polycarbonate plastic. Impurities remaining in the bottle from the monomer bisphenol A can migrate from the plastic bottles into baby food, thereby causing a health concern. Previous migration testing of new baby bottles showed only trace migration levels of the substance. In the present work, polycarbonate baby bottles were subjected to simulated use by dishwashing, boiling and brushing. Migration testing performed with both new and used bottles revealed a significant increase in migration of bisphenol A due to use.

Bisphenol-A (BPA) is a principal reactant in the preparation of polycarbonate (PC) plastics and has been shown in in vitro cell proliferation studies to exhibit estrogen-like characteristics. Reusable baby bottles, water carboys, and other housewares are often made of PC. A high-pressure liquid chromatographic (HPLC) protocol was used to determine residual BPA in PC and BPA migrated to food simulants in contact with PC under controlled time/temperature conditions. Confirmation of BPA was performed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC−MS).

Twenty-four brands of plastic baby feeding bottles were purchased and all were found to be made of polycarbonate. Taking a batch of one representative sample, the polymer was tested for stability and possible release of bisphenol A following domestic practice of sterilization. Sterilization was by alkaline hypochlorite, steam, or washing in an automatic dishwasher at 65 degrees C with detergent. A total of 20 cycles of sterilization and subsequent food use were performed for each of the three procedures.

Migration of bisphenol-A (BPA), the principal monomer of polycarbonate (PC) baby bottles, was investigated using an aqueous migration simulant. BPA was determined in 200 mL water samples using stir bar sorptive extraction (SBSE) after in situ derivatization with acetic acid anhydride followed by thermal desorption (TD)-capillary GC-MS. The concentration of BPA was calculated using the deuterated internal standard d6-BPA. Calibration for BPA was shown to be linear in a concentration range from 1 ng/L to 10 mg/L with a correlation coefficient 40.99.

A comprehensive migration database was established for bisphenol A from polycarbonate baby bottles into water during exposure to microwave heating. Eighteen different brands of polycarbonate baby bottles sold in Europe were collected. Initial residual content of bisphenol A and migration after microwave heating were determined. Residual content of bisphenol A in the polycarbonate baby bottles ranged from 1.4 to 35.3 mg kg−1.