ATS BPA Testing
Applied Technical Services performs BPA testing to determine whether client samples comply with various safety standards.
Bisphenol-A
Bisphenol-A (BPA) is a chemical that is normally used to make plastics, but can also be found in paper receipts and in the coating on the interior of aluminum cans. BPA content is regulated by the FDA in the following items: epoxy resins used in infant formula packaging, baby bottles and sippy cups. ATS is ISO 17025 (A2LA) accredited to perform BPA testing in accordance with ATS 367. We offer detection limits to meet your specific needs, with the lowest being 100 parts per trillion (ppt). We currently utilize the Triple-Quad Liquid Chromatography Mass-Spectrometer (LC/MS/MS) to perform BPA testing.
Bisphenol-S
Bisphenol-S (BPS) is very similar to BPA. BPS is added to plastics, epoxy liners and receipts, just to name a few items. Research indicates that BPS is just as harmful as BPA if not potentially more dangerous. With the enactment of recent state regulations for BPA content, some manufacturers are replacing BPA with BPS. ATS can test for BPS per EPA 3545A/8321B with the lowest detection limit being 100 ppt.
BPA Banned
On July 17th, 2012 the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) approved the American Chemistry Council’s (ACC) suggestion to discontinue using polycarbonate resins in baby bottles and sippy cups. Since BPA is used in the process to make polycarbonate plastic and epoxy resins, the approval basically bans BPA in these types of products. Studies have indicated that exposure to BPA can impact consumer health. Even at very low levels, BPA can potentially cause lifelong health problems. BPA is an endocrine disruptor that simulates estrogen in the human body resulting in a potentially wide range of health issues.
Due to several states already banning BPA, most manufacturers have already discontinued its use. Therefore, this ban is unlikely to result in much of a material change for bottles and sippy cups. The following states either have current or pending regulation for BPA use: California, Connecticut, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, Maryland, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Washington, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Wisconsin.
ATS currently performs BPA testing with a detection limit of 100 parts per trillion (ppt) by Liquid Chromatography Mass-Spectrometer (LC/MS/MS). The LC/MS/MS is a very sensitive instrument that can detect organic compounds at ultra-low levels. The instrumentation is used in a wide range of fields from pharmaceuticals and life sciences to leading edge materials research.
Feel free to contact our lab for additional information regarding testing to meet federal and state regulatory requirements. Our laboratory is accredited by the American Association for Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA), certificate number 1888.01 and 1888.02. Additionally, we are a Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) accredited lab, our laboratory identification number is 1030.