Presentation Type
Panel Discussion
Room Number
Room A
Start Date
26-3-2024 7:10 PM
End Date
26-3-2024 7:30 PM
Abstract
Analysis of BPA Leaching from Feminine Hygiene Products into Simulated Vaginal Fluid using Fluorescence Spectrophotometry
Maryann Rettig and Sara E. Hubbard, Ph.D.
Bisphenol-A (BPA) is a chemical compound commonly used to produce several plastics and epoxy resins. Recently, BPA has also been detected in feminine hygiene products. Because of a structural resemblance to estradiol, BPA can act as an endocrine disruptor, which has linked BPA to several health complications such as cancer development, reduced fertility, and early puberty. In recent summer research at Ouachita Baptist University, it was determined that fluorescence spectrophotometry could be used to monitor BPA leaching over time into a 1:1 methanol/water solvent from panty liners, tampons, and tampon applicators. BPA is a fluorescent compound with excitation and emission wavelengths of 278 nm and 304 nm, respectively. Due to the small amount of BPA leaching from feminine hygiene products and the resulting complex sample matrix, the standard addition method was used to calculate the BPA concentrations obtained from these samples. To further analyze the leaching effects, a simulated vaginal fluid was utilized as the solvent to mimic the pH and proteins of the female vagina. The leaching of BPA from menstrual pads was analyzed over a six-hour time period in both the 1:1 methanol/water and simulated vaginal fluid; the fluorescence emission intensity of each sample was determined using the FS-5 spectrofluorometer from Edinburgh Instruments. Analytical figures of merit: linear range, limit of detection, and limit of quantitation were determined for both the 1:1 methanol/water solvent and simulated vaginal fluid methods.
Keywords
Bisphenol-A, Feminine Hygiene Products, Sara E. Hubbard, Maryann Rettig, Fluorescence Spectrophotometry, excitation, emission, standard addition method, analyze
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
Included in
Women in Stem Conference
Analysis of BPA Leaching from Feminine Hygiene Products into Simulated Vaginal Fluid using Fluorescence Spectrophotometry
Maryann Rettig and Sara E. Hubbard, Ph.D.
Bisphenol-A (BPA) is a chemical compound commonly used to produce several plastics and epoxy resins. Recently, BPA has also been detected in feminine hygiene products. Because of a structural resemblance to estradiol, BPA can act as an endocrine disruptor, which has linked BPA to several health complications such as cancer development, reduced fertility, and early puberty. In recent summer research at Ouachita Baptist University, it was determined that fluorescence spectrophotometry could be used to monitor BPA leaching over time into a 1:1 methanol/water solvent from panty liners, tampons, and tampon applicators. BPA is a fluorescent compound with excitation and emission wavelengths of 278 nm and 304 nm, respectively. Due to the small amount of BPA leaching from feminine hygiene products and the resulting complex sample matrix, the standard addition method was used to calculate the BPA concentrations obtained from these samples. To further analyze the leaching effects, a simulated vaginal fluid was utilized as the solvent to mimic the pH and proteins of the female vagina. The leaching of BPA from menstrual pads was analyzed over a six-hour time period in both the 1:1 methanol/water and simulated vaginal fluid; the fluorescence emission intensity of each sample was determined using the FS-5 spectrofluorometer from Edinburgh Instruments. Analytical figures of merit: linear range, limit of detection, and limit of quantitation were determined for both the 1:1 methanol/water solvent and simulated vaginal fluid methods.