Analyzing Bisphenol a Leaching from Plastic-Bottled Pepsi Drinks: Implications on Health and Strategies for Prevention

ABSTRACT The leaching of Bisphenol A (BPA) from plastic-bottled beverages has raised significant health concerns due to its potential as an endocrine-disrupting compound. This study analyzed the migration of BPA from polycarbonated Pepsi drinks stored under two different conditions — room temperature (25–27°C) and sunlight exposure (40–60°C) — for 28 days. The samples were extracted using Solid Phase Extraction (SPE) and quantified by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) equipped with a diode array detector. Results indicated that the BPA concentration in Pepsi drinks stored at room temperature was 18.44 ± 0.17 ng/L, whereas drinks exposed to sunlight showed higher BPA levels at 25.47 ± 0.48 ng/L. Statistical analysis revealed a significant difference (p ≤ 0.05) between both storage conditions, confirming that sunlight exposure enhances BPA leaching. However, health risk assessments using Estimated Daily Intake (EDI) and Hazard Quotient (HQ) values demonstrated that BPA exposure levels were below the tolerable daily intake (TDI) of 50,000 ng/kg/day, indicating no immediate health risk associated with consumption. The study concludes that while sunlight exposure increases BPA migration, the resultant levels do not pose significant health hazards. It is therefore recommended that plastic-bottled beverages be stored away from direct sunlight to minimize BPA leaching and safeguard consumer health.