Poster Session 5: Biology

Friday, July 24 10:15 AM – 11:15 AM

Location: Centennial

Naomi Terron
CSU Long Beach
Presentation 1
Toxic Threat: Bisphenol A is Sneaking into Your Everyday Life
Bisphenol A (BPA) is a synthetic chemical widely used in plastics, food packaging, beverage containers, and many other consumer products. BPA can mimic natural hormones, allowing it to bind to hormone receptors and disrupt normal biological signaling. As a result, BPA exposure has been associated with alterations in growth, cellular repair, fetal development, reproduction, and increased risks of several chronic diseases, including certain cancers. BPA also poses environmental concerns because it can leach from products into soil, groundwater, and surface waters, contributing to pollution and negatively affecting wildlife and ecosystems. Although BPA has been restricted or banned in some countries, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) established a safe daily exposure level of 50 µg/kg body weight in 2008. In 2022, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) lowered the tolerable daily intake from 50 µg/kg to 0.2 ng/kg body weight per day, reflecting growing concerns about potential health effects. The goal of this project was to develop simple methods for the extraction and detection of BPA in commonly used products and beverages and to investigate factors that may influence BPA release. Samples analyzed included marker caps, LEGO pieces, toothbrush handles, face masks, bottled beverages, canned beverages, and food containers. Environmental conditions such as temperature, microwaving, freezing, and pH were also evaluated. Results demonstrated that BPA remains a threat to human health and may be present in everyday items under conditions. These findings increase awareness of BPA exposure sources and support continued efforts to reduce exposure to BPA and related compounds.