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Reusable plastic water bottles here mostly did not leach BPA: CASE study

SINGAPORE — A study of 20 brands of reusable plastic water bottles sold here has found that most of the bottles did not leach Bisephenol A (BPA) under normal usage conditions,

SINGAPORE — A study of 20 brands of reusable plastic water bottles sold here has found that most of the bottles did not leach Bisephenol A (BPA) under normal usage conditions.

The exception was one bottle from the brand Zenxin, but the level of BPA detected was well within the European Union (EU) BPA migration limit adopted by the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority, which regulates such food-contact articles.

There have been health concerns related to human exposure to BPA, a carbon-based synthetic compound used to make certain plastics, with links to heart problems and diabetes in humans. Previous studies on animals have also shown that very high doses of BPA are likely to affect the liver and kidneys.

In the study, two bottles each from 20 different lesser-known brands of reusable plastic water bottles were bought by CASE mystery shoppers from supermarkets, neighbourhood retail outlets and outdoor shops island-wide. The prices of the bottles ranged from S$2.50 for a 400ml bottle to S$30 for a foldable 1.5-litre bottle. Eleven of the bottles carried “BPA-free” claims and nine did not.

During the test, the bottles were filled with distilled water and kept at a constant temperature of 40°C for 24 hours. The water was then tested for BPA.

Test results of CASE's study of BPA leaching in 20 brands of reusable plastic water bottles sold here. ND indicates "not detected".

Test results showed the polycarbonate bottle made by Zenxin, a Chinese manufacturer, released 0.08mg of BPA per millilitre of water, which is within the migration limit of 0.6mg of BPA per millilitre of water. The bottle, which is sold for S$6.90, did not carry a “BPA-free” claim.

CASE noted that bottles made using good manufacturing practices may not leach BPA, even if it forms part of the base material.

The European Food Safety Authority has deemed that although BPA could pose some risk to consumers, current BPA exposure levels in the market are too low to adversely affect human health. In Singapore, the AVA has banned the use of BPA in infant feeding bottles sold here as a precautionary measure given infants’ high food intake-to-body weight ratio.

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