Date of Award
2015
Document Type
Thesis
Department
Chemistry
First Reader
Dr. Sara E. Hubbard
Second Reader
Dr. Marty Perry
Third Reader
Professor Stacy Freeman
Abstract
Bisphenol A (BPA) is a chemical widely used in production of consumer goods. It has come under scrutiny recently after being labeled as an endocrine disruptor (ED), mostly causing adverse effects in infants and young children. It has been associated with diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and abnormal maturation. Because it is so commonly used in product development, humans are exposed to BPA through various means, such as ingestion or dermal absorption. It is a concern that the combined exposure could cause serious effects even in small doses.
In canned foods, the chemical is made into an epoxy resin to provide a protective lining along the inside of the can. BPA migration occurs when the free BPA moves from the lining into the contents of the can. This study used the standard addition method in order to determine the concentration of BPA in canned goods, as well as the effect of heat on the migration of the chemical from the can's epoxy lining to its liquid contents. Fluorescence spectrophotometry was also used to quantify BPA concentrations, as BPA is a fluorescing molecule. The limit of detection (LOD) for the instrument was 0.3844 µg/ml.
After removing the can's original contents and replacing it with HPLC-grade H2O, BPA levels ranged from 0.7 0.7 ± 0.5 to 1.2 ± 0.5 µg/ml. In the original liquid though, concentrations vacillated between 43.5 ± 0.7 and 95 ± 4 µg/ml. After the application of heat, values stretched from 39 ± 2 to 94 ± 12 µg/ml. The results confirmed the presence of BPA in all of the cans, and indicated that there was no effect on migration of BPA after heating samples.
Recommended Citation
Pruett, Rachel, "Ten Weeks with Green Beans...And Then Some: Determination of Bisphenol-A (BPA) in Canned Goods from Arkansas Markets Using Fluorescence Spectrophotometry" (2015). Honors Theses. 205.
https://scholarlycommons.obu.edu/honors_theses/205
Included in
Chemical Actions and Uses Commons, Environmental Health Commons, Hormones, Hormone Substitutes, and Hormone Antagonists Commons
Comments
Dedicated to:
My Parents, For putting up with me being away from home for an entire summer
My Friends, For providing an audience for all of my practice presentations
Dr. Sara Hubbard, For being my mentor for the entirety of my research and writing experience
You are all awesome.