Unusually high levels of bisphenol A (BPA) in thermal paper cash register receipts (CRs): development and application of a robust LC-UV method to quantify BPA in CRs

Abstract

We have developed a simple, reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) method for the determination of bisphenol A (BPA) in thermal paper cash register receipts (CRs). The method is suitable for analysis of other types of bisphenols and it involves an overnight extraction of CRs with acetonitrile (AN) at 50 °C followed by the HPLC analysis on a Supelcosil LC18 column (150 × 4.6 mm, particle size: 5 μ) using 50% AN in water as the mobile phase (5 min, isocratic). The composition of AN in the mobile phase changed to 100% over a 10 min period (linear gradient) and then held at 100% AN for 10 min (isocratic). The flow rate was set at 1 mL/min (injection volume: 20 μL) and the eluent was monitored at 234 nm. The authentic BPA eluted with a retention time of 5.9 min and gave a linear detector response in the concentration range of 0.23-50 mg/L. BPA in the CR extracts also eluted with the same retention and had identical absorbance properties as the standard. When CR extracts were co-injected with authentic BPA, they were resolved as a single peak. Further, GC/MS/EI analysis of authentic BPA and the HPLC-purified CR extracts have identical ion chromatograms and fragmentation of the molecular ion (m/z = 228). We have analyzed 170 CRs collected from 62 different vendors including supermarkets, fast food restaurants, gas stations and banking outlets. Almost all cash receipts (n = 168) showed the presence of BPA in the concentration range of 0.45-4.26% (M ± SD, 1.54 ± 0.73%).

Perinatal BPA exposure alters body weight and composition in a dose specific and sex specific manner: The addition of peripubertal exposure exacerbates adverse effects in female mice

“…BPA is a component of polycarbonate plastics used in food and beverage containers and epoxy resins used to line food cans and for dental materials. High levels of BPA are also found in carbonless paper [7], and BPA has been measured in ground water, soil, dust and air (reviewed in Ref. [8]).…”

Direct measurement of Bisphenol A (BPA), BPA glucuronide and BPA sulfate in a diverse and low-income population of pregnant women reveals high exposure, with potential implications for previous exposure estimates: a cross-sectional study

“…Understanding sources of BPA exposure is instrumental for identifying populations at greatest risk and for devising strategies for reducing exposure. Studies measuring BPA in food and paper products have found levels as high as 730 ng/g in food (e.g., canned green beans) [ 26 ], 26.6 ug/g in food-contact paper [ 10 ] and 42.6 mg/g in thermal receipt paper [ 6 ]. Higher urinary concentrations of Total BPA have been associated with cashier-related occupations in pregnant women [ 27 ] and the general population [ 28 , 29 ], with consumption of canned vegetables, hamburgers and soda in pregnant women [ 25 ], and with consumption of soda and meals prepared outside the home in the general U.S. population [ 30 ].…”

BPA in Baby Feeding PET Bottle, Aluminium Can and Thermal Printed Paper: Application of Acridine Orange Oxidation Inhibition Method to Estimate BPA

“…BPA in thermal papers are loosely bounded in monomeric forms that can be readily transferred to any surface that comes in contact even by touching them with our hands. In addition, BPA in thermal papers does not require any harsh acidic or heat conditions to facilitate migration from the source (Babu et al 2015). Even though nobody usually soaks thermal papers in water, but due to improper recycling process or bad disposal practices, thermal papers end up in land ll sites and also enter in water bodies.…”