Bisphenol A (BPA) is a harmful chemical that is used in combination with other chemicals to manufacture certain plastics, like polycarbonate and epoxy resins. BPA-based plastics can be found in water bottles, food containers, and the lining of water pipes. BPA is an estrogenic compound, and it has been shown to have carcinogenic effects. Heat can cause BPA to leach from the plastic product. The purpose of this research was to test the effects of Bisphenol A on Lactuca sativa var. Longifolia, and whether or not BPA could make its way into the plant. My hypothesis was that BPA will be absorbed by Lactuca sativa var, Longifolia, and it will have an effect on the plant height, mass, and overall health.

Four experimental groups were set up, and each experimental group was watered with different levels of BPA. Group 1, the control, was watered with DI H20 (no BPA), Group 2 was watered with the amount of BPA a water bottle leaches (7.5 x 10-7 g BPA/1L DI H20 Solution). Group 3 was watered with the amount of BPA a water bottle left in the sun leeches (7.5 x 10-6 g BPA/ 1 L DI H20 Solution). Group 4 was watered with 0.1 g BPA/ 1 L DI H2O Solution. Plant height was measured every class period for 53 days, and plant mass was measured at the end of the growing period.

The amount of BPA that was absorbed by the plant was measured through an ELISA test at the end of the experiment.

The control plants had an average height of 18.49 cm, an average mass of 5.960 g, and 430 picograms (pg) BPAlg plant. Plants exposed to the amount of BPA a water bottle leeches had an average height of 28.34 cm, an average mass of 20.830 g, and 2700 pg BPAlg plant. Plants exposed to the amount of BPA a water bottle left in the sun leeches had an average height of 26.89 cm, an average mass of 19.299 g, and 6100 pg BPA/g plant. Plants exposed to 0.1 g BPA/1L DI H20 Solution had an average height of 15,4 cm, an average mass of 1.710 g, and 34000 pg BPA/g plant, and 2 plants from this group died.

For plant height, mass, and BPA levels, there were statistically significant differences between group means as determined by an ANOVA. T-Tests between the control and the other groups were also statistically significant. A possible explanation for varying plant heights and masses is that BPA acted as a plant hormone at trace levels, and overdoses of BPA caused plant death. Another possibility is that plants in group 4 died from methanol (higher level of BPA required higher levels of methanol). However, a separate study testing the effects of methanol on romaine lettuce found no significant effect between methanol and DI H20 plants. The control group may have gotten trace levels of BPA because plastic tubes were used during the extraction procedure. An ELISA test on BPA levels in the plastic tube found that 13500 pg BPA leached from the bottle/mL of liquid.

The European Union has set its daily BPA intake limit at 50 micrograms (ug)/kg body weight. The FDA has set no limits for BPA intake. Assuming there is 85 g of lettuce in a salad, salad made from lettuce plants in group 2 would contain 0.23 ug of BPA, and salad from plants in group 3 would contain 0.52 ug of BPA.

My results show that Bisphenol A was absorbed by Lactuca sativa var. Longifolia, and it had a significant effect on plant height, mass, and health. Plants in all groups were able to take up and store measurable levels of BPA in their leaves. Further research with BPA and its effects on plants are needed to determine if there are any significant health risk for humans and whether BPA-based plastics should be avoided.