Current Science International ISSN: 2077-4435 Volume : 07 | Issue : 03| July- Sept. | 2018 Pages: 439-450 Corresponding Author: Farida El-Dars, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Helwan University, Cairo, Egypt. E-mail: fkeldars@hotmail.com 439 Determination of Bisphenol A (BPA) levels in some preserved food Products in Egypt Farida El-Dars Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Helwan University, Cairo, Egypt. E-mail: fkeldars@hotmail.com Hanafi A. Hashim Department of Food Science and Technology, Faculty of Agriculture, Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt. E-mail: hanafyhashem@hotmail.com Sara M. Ameen Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Helwan University, Cairo, Egypt. E-mail: sarascience89@yahoo.com Received: 03 Oct. 2017 / Accepted: 02 Nov. 2017 / Publication date: 15 Sept. 2018 ABSTRACT In this study, the concentration of Bisphenol A (BPA), an epoxy resin component, in some selected preserved food products (jams and juice) available at the Egyptian market was investigated. A total of 26 samples comprising 13 jam (strawberry and fig jams) and 13 juice (cocktail/nectar, guava/nectar, fresh pomegranates and mango) were collected from local sources within the Greater Cairo Urban Region. BPA concentrations in these samples were determined using (HPLC) supported with UV-Vis detector after extraction with acetonitrile (ACN): water (60:40, v/v). The results indicated that the BPA levels in jam samples (plastic container) ranged between 8.6- 82.97 ng/g. The levels of BPA in juice samples (tetrapak carton, aluminium retort pouch and plastic bottles) varied between 0.46 – 26.4 ng/mL. The data also revealed that the total solid content % of the tested foodstuff significantly influenced its inherent BPA concentration as well as the type of container used and the pH of the sample. Key words: Polycarbonate, preserved food, Bisphenol A, HPLC, Egypt. Introduction Bisphenol A (BPA, 2,2-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)propane) is a component of polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins that is widely used in water bottles and pipes, the lining of food cans, printer ink and dental binding material (Staden et al, 2014). Because they are highly stable at high temperatures, acid resistance, and have strong adhesion property, epoxy resins are preferably used as protective internal varnish for food and beverage metal cans and tetra packs, and as surface coating on metal lids for glass jars (Larroque et al., 1997; Yoshida et al., 2001; Geueke, 2014). Initial studies conducted on BPA focused upon the identification of some of its related health effects on rats and animals (Dodds and Lawson, 1938; Krishnan et al., 1993). They concluded that BPA had estrogenic activity and was an endocrine disruptor which may pose a potential health hazards to humans. In another study, the estrogenic activity of BPA was linked to genetic mutagenesis in humans that led to the imbalance and disruption of hormonal synthesis and activity as well it was linked to neurochemical changes in the brain that caused behavioral changes (Rykowska and Wasiak, 2006). However, more recent studies have indicated that BPA has the ability to leach into foodstuff due to prolonged contact and nature of the content (Yoshida et al., 2001). As well, the BPA could leach from any container due to real use or during sterilization (Soliman et al., 2014). This may lead to the migration of significant amounts of BPA into foods and its subsequent ingestion within the human food chain.