Bisphenol A contamination in soft drinks as a risk for children’s health in Italy

Bisphenol A (BPA) was determined in sugary carbonated, non-carbonated and milk-based beverages, through HLPC-fluorescence detection and confirmed by LC-MS/MS, in a selection of brands that are mostly consumed by Italian children. The daily intake was determined through the WHO budget method (BM). BPA was found at detectable levels in 57% of carbonated beverages, in 50% of non-carbonated and in 100% of milk-based beverages. The median concentrations were 1.24 µg l–1 (range = < LOD–4.98 µg l–1) in canned carbonated beverages and 0.18 µg l–1 (< LOD–1.78 µg l–1) in non-canned carbonated beverages. In non-carbonated beverages, median concentrations were 0.80 µg l–1 (< LOD–2.79 µg l–1) and 0.18 µg l–1 (< LOD–3.58 µg l–1), respectively, for canned and non-canned beverages; in milk-based products the BPA median concentration was 3.60 µg l–1 (1.00–17.65 µg l–1). BPA daily intake from sugary drink consumption in children ranged from 0.008 to 1.765 µg kg–1 bw day–1. The median exposure values for the ‘best’ and ‘worst’ cases were 0.16% and 0.47% respectively of the EFSA t-TDI for BPA (4 µg kg–1 bw day–1), and 10.59% and 35.30% of the t-TDI when the maximum levels were considered.