Presentation Type

Thesis

Department

Biology

Location

Walker Conference Center A

Description

Bisphenol-A (BPA) is a structural component in many plastic products, which acts as an endocrine-disruptor mimicking estrogen. This hormonal disruption has been linked to obesity, reproductive issues, cardiovascular problems, and neurodevelopment disorders. Infants are at the highest risk of BPA exposure compared to any other stage of life. Because an infant's endocrine system is developing, exposure to an endocrine-disruptor, such as BPA, can be especially harmful. While the FDA monitors products like baby bottles, canned goods, and plastic containers for BPA, infant oral hygiene products are not closely monitored.

Previous research in our lab used fluorescence spectroscopy to test several brands of infant toothbrushes and found that many contain and leach BPA into their surroundings. Bisphenol-A fluoresces at an excitation wavelength of 278 nm and an emission wavelength of 304 nm. When tested at the average body temperature, 37 °C, research showed an increased amount of BPA leaching from the toothbrushes. For this project, toothbrushes were tested by storing them at higher temperatures, 50 °C, prior to testing for time increments similar to that of shipment in semi-trucks. Large shipments spend an average of 3-7 days in semi-truck containers, and the shipment temperature, on average, reaches 50 °C. Toothbrushes were then placed in 1: 1 methanol/water for several hours. Aliquots were removed over time, and the amount of BPA leaching from the samples was monitored using an FS5 Spectrofluorometer from Edinburgh instruments. The results of this experiment revealed an insignificant increase in the amount of BPA leaching out of toothbrushes at increased duration and temperature.

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Apr 27th, 1:50 PM Apr 27th, 2:05 PM

Effects of Storage Conditions on BPA Leanching from Infant Oral Hygiene Products Using Fluorescence Spectroscopy

Walker Conference Center A

Bisphenol-A (BPA) is a structural component in many plastic products, which acts as an endocrine-disruptor mimicking estrogen. This hormonal disruption has been linked to obesity, reproductive issues, cardiovascular problems, and neurodevelopment disorders. Infants are at the highest risk of BPA exposure compared to any other stage of life. Because an infant's endocrine system is developing, exposure to an endocrine-disruptor, such as BPA, can be especially harmful. While the FDA monitors products like baby bottles, canned goods, and plastic containers for BPA, infant oral hygiene products are not closely monitored.

Previous research in our lab used fluorescence spectroscopy to test several brands of infant toothbrushes and found that many contain and leach BPA into their surroundings. Bisphenol-A fluoresces at an excitation wavelength of 278 nm and an emission wavelength of 304 nm. When tested at the average body temperature, 37 °C, research showed an increased amount of BPA leaching from the toothbrushes. For this project, toothbrushes were tested by storing them at higher temperatures, 50 °C, prior to testing for time increments similar to that of shipment in semi-trucks. Large shipments spend an average of 3-7 days in semi-truck containers, and the shipment temperature, on average, reaches 50 °C. Toothbrushes were then placed in 1: 1 methanol/water for several hours. Aliquots were removed over time, and the amount of BPA leaching from the samples was monitored using an FS5 Spectrofluorometer from Edinburgh instruments. The results of this experiment revealed an insignificant increase in the amount of BPA leaching out of toothbrushes at increased duration and temperature.

 

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