Quantitative Analysis of Bisphenol A in Commercial Beverages

TL;DR

This study measures Bisphenol A in various beverages and finds it in about 30% of samples, with higher levels in iced teas and canned drinks.

Contribution

The study introduces a potential chitosan-coated optical fiber sensor for rapid BPA detection in food matrices.

Findings

BPA was detected in 30% of beverage samples with concentrations ranging from 0.15 to 0.94 ng/mL.

Iced teas and canned beverages showed the highest BPA detection frequencies.

A preliminary test demonstrated a chitosan-coated sensor's ability to detect BPA in real food matrices.

Abstract

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a widely used synthetic compound and a well-known endocrine-disrupting chemical that has been linked to a range of health issues and poses significant public health concern. Despite efforts to regulate its use in food-contact materials, BPA remains a significant food contaminant due to its widespread use and its ability to leach into consumer products. Therefore, it is paramount to continue monitoring this contaminant in the food supply chain. This work aims to assess human exposure by investigating the presence of BPA in beverages, including iced teas, fruit juices, water, and carbonated drinks. The analysis by liquid chromatography coupled with fluorescence detection reveals BPA above the limit of quantification in about 30% of samples, with concentrations ranging from 0.15 to 0.94 ng/mL. The highest detection frequencies are observed in iced teas and canned beverages, while water and glass-bottled drinks have the lowest BPA detection frequencies. In the future, we aim to use the results from this study as a reference to optimize a chitosan-coated optical fiber sensor as a possible alternative for rapid BPA detection. A preliminary test showed that the sensor can discriminate between BPA concentrations of 10–100 µg/mL in a real food matrix.

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