Endocrine Disruptors

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a toxic chemical that can cause neural and behavioral problems in humans and other animals exposed at an early age. It is also known to harm fish and other organisms through prolonged exposure. It is a component of polycarbonate, a hard, clear plastic used in many consumer products, including reusable water bottles, baby bottles, plastic cutlery and storage containers. Bisphenol A is also a common component of epoxy resins used in the protective lining on the inside of metal-based food and beverage cans to prevent the contamination of food or beverages with dissolved metals. BPA is not found naturally in the environment, but is currently found in wastewater thanks to human activity. The Canadian government is currently investigating the risks and considering banning polycarbonate baby bottles and is also working with industry to reduce BPA levels in the linings of infant formula cans.

Another endocrine disruptor, 17beta-estradiol, and its metabolites estrone and estriol are naturally occurring hormones that enter the environment through excretions from humans, domestic and farm animals and wildlife. 17alpha-ethynylestradiol is the major ingredient of many oral contraceptives. These hormones are environmental contaminants found in sewage.

ISI has developed an extraction protocol and GC/MS method for the detection of a number of endocrine disruptors in sewage, wastewater and herbals. Our method can be adapted to other matrices, including food products.

Our endocrine disruptors testing can screen for the following compounds: