BISPHENOL A DETECTION AT PLASTIC BOTTLES
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A Research Paper
Presented to the
Science & Research Department
Integrated Developmental School
MSU-Iligan Institute of Technology
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In Partial Fulfillment for the Course
Science Research
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JULIUS JOHN Liquin BACTON
March 2012
APPROVAL SHEET
This research paper entitled “BISPHENOL DETECTION AT
BOTTLES)” prepared and submitted by JULIUS JOHN Liquin BACTON
PLASTIC
PROF. ODYSSA NATIVIDAD R.M. MOLO
Adviser
________________
Date
PROF. ALMA GLORIA SILVA
Panel Member
PROF. IVY CLAIRE MORDENO
Panel Member
Date
Date
Technical Consultant
___________________
Date
Accepted and approved in partial fulfillment of the Course in Science Research
I/II.
PROF. VICTORIA A. TARRANZA
Chairperson, Science & Research
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Date
PROF. LEILA V. BERNALDEZ
Principal, IDS
____________
Date.
Chapter 1
Introduction
Bisphenol A Detection at Plastic Bottles
A. Background of the Study
Bisphenol A (abbreviated as BPA) is a key building block in the production of many plastic,
especially polycarbonates – a clear and nearly shatter-proof polymer used to make food and
beverage containers, as well as household electronics.
There is widespread concern among scientist that long-term exposure may induce chronic
toxicity in humans, since BPA can mimic estrogen. Studies indicate that early development
appears to be the period of greatest sensitivity to BPA resulting in developmental impairment,
cancer, obesity and interference with brain activity to memory, learning and mood.
The researcher decided take up this research by determining the presence of Bisphenol A among
Plastic bottles depend on the color change at the swab after the experiment.
B. Statement of the problem
This study focus on determination of Bisphenol A among plastic bottles .It will also answer the
following sub-problems:
1.) Which among the types of plastic products are much proned to BPA presence?
2.) Is there a qualitative difference of Bisphenol A presence among:
a. Plastic Drinking Cups
b. Plastic Juice Bottles
c. Plastic Water Bottles?
C. Hypotheses of the Study
1.) Plastic bottles samples have a low possibility of BPA presence.
2.) Plastic Juice Bottle samples have high possibilities of BPA presence.
3.) Plastic Water Bottle samples have low possibilities of BPA presence.
4.) The products have a significant difference on the number of samples that are positively
BPA contained.
D. Objectives of the study
To determine if there are Bisphenol A contents present on different plastic bottles. It also
aims to:
1.) Determine what are the characteristics of plastic bottles that is positive on Bisphenol A.
2.) Determine whether there is significant difference on presence of Bisphenol A among plastic
bottles.
E. Significance of the Study
The results of this study will serve as a guide to consumer what items that they are going to buy
especially plastic bottles, which contain the drinks that we consumed everyday of our lives.
These results will serve as a warning to the public that the plastic products that contain our drink
may contain Bisphenol A that is very dangerous to health of a person.
F. Scope and Limitations
In applying the methods, plastic products that are used every day by the citizen of the Philippines
or even the students of MSU-IIT IDS are classified as one of the samples that are used in the
experiment. Iron (III) Chloride was used as the indicator for the experiment that have been
conducted. No Statistic tool is used in this study because this only aims to determine and
compare the plastic product whether they contain Bisphenol A.
G. Definition of Terms
Bisphenol A – a key building block in the production of many plastics, especially
Polycarbonates.
Iron (III) Chloride – an industrial scale commodity chemical compound that can detect
Bisphenol A compound.
Chapter II
Review of Related Literature and Related Studies
Bisphenol A (abbreviated as BPA) is a key building block in the production of many plastics,
especially polycarbonates – a clear and nearly shatter-proof polymer used to make food and
beverage containers, as well as household electronics.
There is widespread concern among scientists that long-term exposure may induce chronic
toxicity in humans, since BPA can mimic estrogen. Studies indicate that early development
appears to be the period of greatest sensitivity to BPA resulting in developmental impairment,
cancer, obesity and interference with brain activity related to memory, learning and mood.(
http://www.home-health-chemistry.com/Bisphenol-A.html)
The chemical--which is widely used in products such as reusable water bottles, food can linings,
water pipes and dental sealants--has been shown to affect reproduction and brain development in
animal studies.(http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/01/080130092108.htm)
The leaching of potentially harmful chemicals such as bisphenol A, also known as BPA, from
plastic containers has become a public health concern over the past few years. Scientists monitor
food containers to ensure they comply with government limits for leaching. In the lab, plastics
are tested by simulating normal use and by using gas chromatography to detect BPA. However,
simple test kits allow the public to determine if plastic bottles are leaching
BPA.(http://www.ehow.com/how_7798718_carry-chemical-leaching-experiment-plastics.html)
BPA can do Damage to male reproductive organs in test animals: Male laboratory animals
exposed to low levels of bisphenol-A in the womb had enlarged prostate weight as adults,
shrunken epididymis (sperm-carrying ducts), and reduced sperm counts.
Early puberty and 20% increase in body weight in female laboratory mice exposed to bisphenolA in the womb, and increased body weight in mice of both genders exposed as embryos. In
mice, exposure to low levels of bisphenol-A has also induced aneuploidy, an error in cell
division that causes miscarriages and birth defects, including Down syndrome, in humans.
Short term exposure to Bisphenol-A dust, usually in an occupational setting, cause skin and eye
irritation.(http://healthychild.org/issues/chemical-pop/bisphenol_a/)
A water bottle is a container used to hold water for consumption. This allows an individual to
transport or carry the bottled water from one place to another. A water bottle is usually made
of plastic, glass, or metal, and so most can be recycled. Water bottles can be single use,
returnable, or reusable. Water bottles are used for drinking water, carbonated water, mineral
water or distilled water. Water bottles can be refilled with water or other fluids such as orange
juice, iced tea or soft drinks. The benefits of plastic bottles are that they are inexpensive,
transparent, and shatter resistant. Depending on the specific plastic construction, however, there
may be questions regarding the safety of some of the chemicals in the plastic and how those
interact with the water.
Consumers have been warned about using warm water in some Polycarbonate bottles because of
potential leaching of harmful chemicals into the water. One study concluded that water inside
cloudy or scratched bottles is more vulnerable to contamination from phthalates or bisphenol A,
commonly abbreviated as BPA. Phthalates are being phased out of many products in the United
States, Canada, and the European Union over health concerns. A 2010 report from the United
States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) raised further concerns regarding exposure of
fetuses, infants and young children to bisphenol A. In September 2010, Canada became the first
country to declare BPA a toxic substance.(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_bottle)
Highest levels of BPA were found in infant and chicken soup formulas. If a woman or a child is
exposed to at least a serving of these formulas, the tendency is that she will acquire some serious
side effects. A ration of 1:10 food cans and 1:3 infant formula cans showed that a single serving
will be enough for women or infants to get exposed to higher BPA levels. In fact, the results
showed that the BPA level is 200 times more than the safety level of exposure that the
government has set for industrial chemicals. This industrial compound was already detected in
over 2,000 people globally. The EWG also found out that 95% or 380 out of the 400 people they
tested in the United States were positive with this compound.( http://www.testcountry.org/how-totest-for-bisphenol-a-bpa-%E2%80%93-bpa-testing.htm)
Iron(III) chloride, also called ferric chloride, is an industrial scale commodity chemical
compound, with the formula FeCl3. The colour of iron(III) chloride crystals depends on the
viewing angle: by reflected light the crystals appear dark green, but by transmitted light they
appear purple-red. Anhydrous iron(III) chloride is deliquescent, forming hydrated hydrogen
chloride mists in moist air. It is rarely observed in its natural form, mineral molysite, known
mainly from some fumaroles.
When dissolved in water, iron(III) chloride undergoes hydrolysis and gives off heat in
an exothermic reaction. The resulting brown, acidic, and corrosive solution is used as
a flocculent in sewage treatment and drinking water production, and as an etchant for copperbased metals imprinted. Anhydrous iron (III) chloride is a fairly strong Lewis acid, and it is used
as a catalyst in organic synthesis.
In the laboratory iron(III) chloride is commonly employed as a Lewis
acid for catalyzing reactions such as chlorination of aromatic compounds and Friedel-Crafts
reaction of aromatics. It is less powerful than aluminum chloride, but in some cases this mildness
leads to higher yields, The ferric chloride test is a traditional colorimetric test for phenols, which
uses a 1% iron (III) chloride solution that has been neutralized with sodium hydroxide until a
slight precipitate of FeO(OH) is formed. The mixture is filtered before use. The organic
substance is dissolved in water, methanol or ethanol, then the neutralized iron (III) chloride
solution is added—a transient or permanent coloration (usually purple, green or blue) indicates
the presence of a phenol or enol.(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron(III)_chloride)
1. U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on baby bottles, water bottles and cut portions
of baby bottles under "typical/normal use" conditions (Biles et al, 1997);
2. U.K. Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF) on baby bottles subjected to as
many as 30 cycles of cleaning, sterilizing and simulated use (Mountfort et al, 1997;
MAFF, 1997);
3. U.K. Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Consumer Affairs Directorate on baby
bottles handled under "realistic worst-case conditions of use" (Earls et al, 2000);
4. Japanese National Institute of Health Sciences (NIHS) on tableware and baby bottles
under conditions representative of normal consumer use (Kawamura et al, 1998); and
5. Society of the Plastics Industry, Inc. (SPI) on polycarbonate discs under the most
rigorous conditions recommended by FDA (Howe and Borodinsky, 1998).
These studies are not identical in design but all aimed to measure the potential migration of
BPA into foods and beverages under temperature and time conditions considered to be
typical of how polycarbonate products are actually used. Study design aspects that vary
among the studies are the type of polycarbonate product or article tested (i.e., baby bottles,
water bottles, tableware, molded discs or cut pieces), the nature of the "food" in contact with
polycarbonate (i.e., an actual food such as water, fruit juice or infant formula, or a solvent
such as 10% ethanol to simulate food), and the specific time/temperature conditions used.
Considered together, these studies cover a complete range of polycarbonate food contact
products and use conditions, which provides reassurance that the collective results fully
represent the potential migration of BPA into foods and beverages. The results of these
studies are briefly summarized below in reference to the type of polycarbonate product or
article that was tested.
Chapter III
Methodology
A. Research Design
Bisphenol A is a substance that can be determine among plastic bottles after such experiment. 3
types of plastics are tested, plastic drinking cups in setup A, plastic water bottles in setup B, and
plastic juice bottles in setup C, three trials are made for every type of plastic containers. Data are
recorded and compared to the guide that will indicate if it possesses Bisphenol A substance.
B. Materials and Equipments
Materials

Cotton swab (“q-tip”)

Plastic Water Bottles

Plastic Drinking Cups

Small Disposable White Plastic Plate

Plastic Juice Bottles/ Soft Drink
Bottles
Equipments
Substances

Electric Stove

Beaker

Iron (III) Chloride

Dropper

Hygeinex Ethyl Alcohol

Graduated Cylinder

Bisphenol A

Stirring Rod
C. Experimental Setup
In this experiment same substance and materials are going to be needed but different treated
samples are used. The indicators of the substance for the samples are made the same.
D. Procedure
Preparation of Materials
Materials such as plastic bottles are being recycled from the house or from the campus that the
students have already used up. Plastic plates, cotton swab, rubbing alcohol are bought from the
store.
Preparation of Indicator
In the preparation of the indicator, De-ionized water will be made after de-ionizing the distilled
water in the College of Science and Mathematics. The De-ionized water was mixed to iron (III)
chloride to form the indicator for the whole samples.
Procedure
1.) Place the item to be tested in a container of freshly boiled water and leave for five
minutes.
2.) Ensure the container is large enough to submerge the plastic item. The increase in
temperature facilitates the leaching of any Bisphenol A present.
3.) Remove the item form the water, taking care not to scald yourself. Dip the cotton swab in
the alcohol, and rub against the surface of the plastic item for one minute.
4.) This Swabbing technique should result in the transfer of any free Bisphenol A onto the
cotton swab.
5.) Allow the swab to dry in the air for a few minutes.
6.) Prepare the indicator solution in accordance with the instructions by mixing ¼ tsp. Of the
indicator with 1 cup de-ionized water. Label the solution to avoid it being mistaken for
anything else.
7.) Place a drop of the indicator solution and allow it to soak in. Look for a color change. If
Bisphenol A has leached from the plastic container, a purple, blue or green coloration
should occur within one to minutes. Repeat the procedure in testing other samples, using
a clean cotton swab (this will provide a reference against which to compare the swabbed
cotton swab.)
E. Procedures/Instruments used in data gathering.
The result will be recorded and compare if it had a similarity to the guide color below. The color
occurred at the swab will indicate whether Bisphenol A is present at the sample plastic bottles
based on its similarity to the guide colors.
Table 1. Guide Color for Bisphenol A.
Color that should be seen at the swab if it positively made from Bisphenol A.
Plastic Drinking Cups
Purple
Blue
Green
Plastic Water Bottles
Purple
Blue
Green
Plastic Juice Bottles
Purple
Blue
Green
(This guide was based on a ferric chloride test wherein the the organic substance is dissolved in
water, methanol or ethanol, then the neutralized iron(III) chloride solution is added—a transient or
permanent coloration (usually purple, green or blue) indicates the presence of a phenol or enol.)
Table 2.1 Color Change at the swab on plastic drinking cup products
Color Occurred at the Swab
Plastic Drinking
Cup Products
Trial 1
Trial 2
Trial 3
Brand 1
Brand 2
Brand 3
Table 2.2 Color Change at the swab on plastic water bottle products
Color Occurred at the Swab
Plastic Water
Bottle Products
Trial 1
Trial 2
Trial 3
Brand 1
Brand 2
Brand 3
Table 2.3 Color Change at the swab on Plastic Juice bottle Products
Color Occurred at the Swab
Plastic Juice
Bottles Products
Brand 1
Brand 2
Brand 3
Trial 1
Trial 2
Trial 3
F. Flowchart
Place the item in a
cup of boiling water
Soak a cotton swab
into a rubbing
alcohol
Rub the cotton swab
against the test item
Place the Indicator
solution at a plastic
plate
Mix Iron(III) chloride
with a de-ionized
water
Let swab dry to
evaporate the
alcohol
Dip the swab at the
Solution
Determine what
coloration exposed at
the swab
CHAPTER IV
RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS
In this chapter, results of the experiment are gathered and presented. These results
will prove whether the plastics that are gathered and tested are positively contained with
Bisphenol A. Using simple and affordable techniques, the researcher was able to present the data
based on the colors change at the swab.
A. Data Gathered
The tables below showed the colors change on the swab on the respective samples,
every trial.
Table 3.1: Color occurred at Plastic Drinking Cups
Plastic Drinking
Color Change at the Swab
Cup Products
Trial 1
Trial 2
Trial 3
Normal Cups(A)
Brownish Spot
Brownish Spot
Grayish Spot
Jollibee Cups(B)
Redish Spot
Pinkish Spot
Redish Spot
Selecta Cups(C)
Grayish Spot
Brownish Spot
Grayish Spot
Ice Cream Cups(D)
Greenish Spot Greenish Spot Greenish Spot
Plastic Drinking Cups
The table indicates that Plastic Cup A undergo a color change on the three trials and showed
same color change, and these color changes implicate that Bisphenol A was not present on the
Plastic Cup A based on negative similarity on the color guide. Plastic Cup B undergo a color
change and the color change still implicates negative presence of Bisphenol A. Plastic Cup C
undergo color change and still implicates negative result of presence of Bisphenol A. Plastic Cup
D undergo color change on the following trials and the color change showed , implicates
Bisphenol A presence.
Table 3.2:Color occurred at Plastic Water Bottles
Plastic Water
Color Change at the Swab
Bottle Products
Trial 1
Trial 2
Trial 3
Summit(A)
Orange spot
Orange spot
Orange spot
Wilkins(B)
Greenish spot
Brownish spot
Greenish spot
Nature Spring(C)
None
None
None
Magnolia Purewater(D)
Bluish spot
Grayish spot
Bluish spot
Wet(E)
None
None
None
Absolute(F)
Redish spot
Redish spot
Orange spot
Refresh(drinking water)(G)
Bluish spot
Bluish spot
Bluish spot
Plastic Water Bottles
Plastic Bottle A indicates color change but these color changes implicates negative presence or
absence of Bisphenol A. Plastic Bottle B undergo color change and the colors shown have
similarities on the color guide- green color – this color indicate that Bisphenol A was present at
Plastic Bottle B. Plastic Bottle C do not undergo on any color change at all and this indicate that
Bisphenol A was not present on Plastic Bottle C. Plastic Bottle D undergo color change and the
colors implicate Bisphenol A presence on this samples. Plastic Bottle E do not undergo color
change and indicates that Bisphenol A was negative on these Sample. Plastic Bottle F undergo
color change on three trials , these color changes implicate negative presence of Bisphenol A.
Plasitc Bottle G undergo color change, and the color change indicates Bisphenol A presence.
Table 3.3:Color occurred at Plastic Juice Bottles
Plastic Juice/ Plastic Soft Drink
Color Occurred at the Swab
Bottle Products
Trial 1
Trial 2
Trial 3
C2 solo(A)
Redish spot
Redish spot
Redish spot
Nestea(B)
Greenish spot
Light green spot
Green/Brown spot
Mountain Dew(C)
None
None
None
7up(D)
Grayish spot
Brownish spot
Grayish spot
Coke(E)
Redish spot
Brownish spot
Grayish spot
Royal(F)
None
None
None
Plastic Juice Bottles
Plastic Bottle A,D & E undergo color change on the three trials but the color changes indicate
negative presence of Bisphenol A. Plastic Bottle C & F do not undergo color changes at all and
indicates absence of Bisphenol A and is safer to use. Plastic bottle B undergo color change and
the color change shows similarity to the guide color- green – this color indicates Bisphenol A
presence at plastic juice bottles.
Chapter V
Conclusions and Recommendations
This chapter covers the conclusions that can be made after performing the experiment. This also
gives some recommendations in order to improve the “sureness” of the results.
A. Summary
Bisphenol A is determined using a rubbing technique using a swab. The color change on the
swab was recorded and was compare to the guide colors that tells whether there are similarity on
the color on the guide and those on the swab. There are samples/brands that showed positive
presence of Bisphenol A.
B. Conclusions
1.) Common used plastic drinking cup products have a low possibility of Bisphenol A
presence due to its properties that is thin made plastic.
2.) Commonly used plastic water bottles shows more brands are positive on Bisphenol A
presence
3.) Commonly used plastic juice bottles have a low possibility of Bisphenol A presence.
4.) The plastic bottle that we use at home, at school or even at the places we go have a high
possibility that it doesn’t contain Bisphenol A, because these products are pure made in
the Philippines and is surely not containable with a dangerous substance that can cause
illness.
C. Recommendations
1.) In order to have a result of Bisphenol A presence on Plastic Bottles, the future
researcher/s may use foreign products.
2.) Use another types of products other than plastics.
3.) Find a way to determine the concentration of the Bisphenol A base on the color that will
occurred at the swab.
4.) Determine another simple but affordable way to determine the presence of Bisphenol A
at different consumer products.