Determination of bisphenol a in effluents of hemodialyzers.

This study was designed to determine whether bisphenol A (BPA) is eluted from hemodialyzers in which polycarbonate and polysulfone based on BPA are used as materials. Four types of polysulfone hemodialyzer (PS hemodialyzer: PS-A, PS-B, PS-C and PS-D) and an ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer dialyzer (EVAL hemodialyzer) were used in this study. In the PS-C, PS-D and EVAL hemodialyzers, polycarbonate was used in the case headers at both ends of the hemodialyzer. In in vitro experiments, the hemodialyzers were filled with reverse osmotic water, and BPA concentrations were measured. Saline solution (200 ml) was then circulated through a blood circuit tube connected to the hemodialyzer, and BPA concentrations in the saline solution were measured. In in vivo experiments, BPA concentrations in whole blood samples from hemodialysis patients treated with PS-C (n = 3) and PS-D (n = 3) hemodialyzers were measured. In in vitro experiments, BPA was detected in the effluents of the PS-C, PS-D and EVAL hemodialyzers. In in vivo experiments, BPA was detected in whole blood samples from hemodialysis patients treated with the PS-D hemodialyzer (mean value, 0.77 ppb). This is the first report of BPA elution from hemodialyzers in which polycarbonate and polysulfone are used, and also the first report of detection of BPA in whole blood samples from patients on hemodialysis. Copyright 2001 S. Karger AG, Basel.