Exposure assessment of Bisphenol A intake from polymeric baby bottles in formula-fed infants aged less than one year

BisphenolA (BPA) or 2,2-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)propanepresent in polycarbonate baby bottles may have harmful effects for formula-fed infants. This study evaluated the risks associated with exposure to BPA among Iranian formula-fed infants in an urban society in Isfahan. New and used baby bottles (n = 7 and 8, respectively) as well as BPA-free marked bottles (n = 2) were collected from a retail outlet, and leaching of BPA was examined by conducting a migration test. Concentrations of BPA released from the new and used baby bottles were in the range of 0.49⿿8.58 and 0.63⿿2.47 μg/l, respectively. Next, probabilistic exposure estimation was performed. In all, 200 mothers registered with 11 health centres in Isfahan were interviewed. Data on feeding pattern, washing and sterilization practices, bottles types and manufacturers as well as the sex and weight of the infants were collected using a questionnaire. The results showed that majority of the surveyed infants were exposed to 0.1⿿0.3 μg/kg body weight (bw)/d of BPA, which corresponded to approximately 2⿿7.5% of the defined t-TDI (4 μg/kgbw/d). These results suggested that the risk of the adverse effects caused by exposure to BPA was very low in formula-fed Iranian infants even in the worst-case scenario.