Detecting Gas Emission presence of Di-n-octylphthalate in Waterproof Crib Mattress Covers in Room Temperature
Maliah Christine Domingo
There have been multiple phthalates that have been banned in the production of products that come into oral contact with infants. One of these phthalates is known as Di-n-octylphthalate (DnOP), which has been proven to cause reproductive and developmental effects unto those that are exposed to it. A study by Brandon E. Boor et.al. has shown that one of the biggest possible contributors to infant phthalate exposure would be crib mattress covers. Infants are at a higher risk of exposure, compared to adults, due to the fact that they inhale ten times more air than adults, and that they also spend most of their time sleeping on the mattress covers themselves. The experiment presented focuses on the phthalate DnOP and possible gas emissions of this phthalate at room temperature. Empty paint canisters are used to serve as the chamber in which any phthalate emissions are released. Any phthalate emission could also be obtained by introducing the presence of coffee filter papers to absorb them. The sample results are analyzed using GCMS. The results of the experiment detected no trace of DnOP gas emission in any of the samples. Despite the lack of DnOP presence, a consistent presence of a phthalate-like compound was found. With these results at hand, the phthalate-like compound should be focused on in future investigations and the possible effects it may have should also be looked into.
Analysis of Residual Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Solution on Cleveland’s Guardians of Traffic using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry
David Imre
The purpose of this study was to identify and quantify the levels of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH’s) within the sandstone Guardians of Traffic structures found on Hope Memorial Bridge in downtown Cleveland. This experiment aims to educate the reader on the presence of these class of chemicals that occur naturally in coal, crude oil, and gasoline on structures like these statues that occupy a high-traffic and high-pollution environment. Along with that, to educate the reader on the negative health impacts that exposure to these chemicals pose. A multi-method strategy on how the scientific experiment was conducted (including a thorough description of methodology, protocol of the spanned experiment, and analysis of data that was collected), and results of the measurements calculated over the course of the study. A discussion of the in-depth analysis and the statistical significance concludes the study with an acknowledgment to those who assisted in making the study possible.
Analysis of the Presence of Heptyl Paraben in Black Cherry and Grapefruit Flavored White Claw
Lindsay Sovchik
Parabens are esters of para-hydroxybenzoic acid, and are commonly used as preservatives in cosmetics, pharmaceutical products, and food and drink products, including alcoholic beverages. Common parabens include methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, and heptylparaben. Heptylparaben is the most commonly found paraben used in alcoholic beverages, as it is observed to be most effective at preventing the growth of yeast and bacteria present when alcohol becomes spoiled. Usage of parabens should be under great attention, as they have been linked to breast cancer as well as male infertility and are known to be slight endocrine disrupters as their chemical structure is similar to estrogen and are able to mimic the hormone’s activity in the body. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was utilized to determine the presence or absence of heptylparaben as a preservative in two flavors of White Claw® Hard Seltzer, an alcoholic beverage with increasing popularity. A calibration curve was prepared using heptylparaben standards in concentration range of 0.47 to 60 ppm. Data was compared against spiked concentration samples containing proportions of the paraben for accuracy. No traces of heptylparaben were found in either samples of the hard seltzers, however there were noticeable unknown contaminants present, with possibility of presence of another paraben with a decreasing carbon number of the ester group.
Concentration of 6-Mercaptopurine in Metabolized Azathioprine
Arielle Shapiro and Alexandra Kesic
Azathioprine and 6-mercaptopurine are immunomodulators used for the treatment of diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, and systemic lupus erythematosus, as well as to prevent rejection after kidney transplantation. Azathioprine is a prodrug of 6-mercaptopurine, meaning that it is metabolized into 6-mercaptopurine in the body. Azathioprine is sold in two forms: generic and various brand names; for this particular experiment we used 100mg Azasan tablets. High performance liquid chromatography was used to determine if the concentrations of azathioprine were the same in both the generic and brand-name tablets. After reaction with glutathione to convert azathioprine into 6-mercaptopurine, high performance liquid chromatography was used again to determine if the generic and brand-name tablets of azathioprine metabolized to the same concentration of 6-mercaptopurine.
Determination of Ethylparaben in Aerosol Fresheners
Jordan Benner
The purpose of this project is to detect the presence of Ethylparaben in popular air fresheners. Parabens are on the list of TACs (Toxic Air Contaminants) and have been previously detected in cosmetics, foods, and household cleaning products. They are an industrial preservative that prevent microbial growth. They have been linked to a variety of health issues, such as skin and breast cancer, hormone disruption and other endocrine issues, developmental issues, reproductive issues, allergic reactions, and respiratory problems. Air fresheners contain a large number and variety of different ingredients that are questionably toxic. We collected similar fragrance types (Linen and Apple scented) of Glade and Febreze, and ran them through HPLC instrumentation to test for ethylparaben. We found excessive amounts of this TAC in all samples.
Comparison of Concentrations of Generic and Brand Name Immunosuppressant Medications and their Metabolized Active Forms
Alexandra Kesic
This experiment aims to examine the concentrations of azathioprine in a generic and brand version (Azasan) of the immunosuppressant drug, in addition to measuring the concentrations of the medications in their metabolized form, 6-mercaptopurine. Azathioprine is therefore classified as a prodrug, and is commonly prescribed in the treatment of various autoimmune diseases. The conversion from azathioprine to 6-mercaptopurine was performed in vitro using glutathione and a phosphate buffer. All concentrations were determined using HPLC. Results indicated that there was a slight difference in concentrations of azathioprine between the brand and generic version, with the brand yielding a slightly higher concentration of the drug. This trend continued when the medications were converted to 6-mercaptopurine; the brand medication again yielded a slightly higher concentration of the activated precursor than the generic medication.
Testing For BPA in Different Plastic From Foreign Countries
Theresa Jammal
All plastic products in the United States need to follow specific FDA regulations in order to keep
Americans from consuming harsh chemicals. Unfortunately, these same standards are not
necessarily followed in other countries, which is not always the best for the body. Countries such as Lebanon and Mexico, are not forced to follow these same FDA regulations meaning there could be various traces of Bisphenol-A (BPA) in the plastic products they use and sell. Bisphenol-A, also known as BPA, is an endocrine disruptor that imitates the body’s hormones, and it can interfere with the production, secretion, transport, action, function, and elimination of natural hormones (2) . Using a technique called High Performance Liquid Chromatography otherwise known as HPLC, which is a form of column chromatography that pumps a sample mixture or analyte in a solvent at high pressure through a column with chromatographic packing material, various plastic containers from Lebanon and Mexico were tested for any traces of BPA(2). The data displayed proved that there were traces of BPA in both plastic products from Lebanon and Mexico.
Finding Bisphenol A in Plastic Water Bottles from Mexico and Lebanon by comparing the absorption to standards using HPLC
Eliseiana Soto Rodriguez
The FDA has regulations that are enforced to ensure people’s safety. All plastic products
in the US need to follow these FDA regulations. Unfortunately, these same standards are not
necessarily followed in other countries. Countries such as Lebanon and Mexico, are not forced to follow these same FDA regulations meaning there could be various traces of Bisphenol-A (BPA) in the plastic products they use and sell. Using a machine called High Performance Liquid Chromatography other wise known as HPLC, which is a form of column chromatography that pumps a sample mixture or analyte in a solvent at high pressure through a column with chromatographic packing material, a plastic water bottle from each country, Lebanon and Mexico, were tested for any traces of BPA (2). The data displayed proved that there were very small traces of BPA in both plastic products from Lebanon and Mexico, but not enough to be in violation with FDA regulations.
Detecting Gas Emission of DɴOP (Di-n-Octyl Phthalate) from Mattress Protectors at Room Temperature in Confined Space
Lauren Boyd
This experiment looked into two brands of waterproof mattress protectors to determine if
there was any gas emission of Di-n-Octyl Phthalate, or DɴOP. This was done using a small,
specially designed chamber over a two-week period of time at room temperature. The evidence
did not support the presence of DɴOP, however there were some other compounds of interest
detected using the GC-MS instrument and data analysis. While standards were prepared well and resulted in an excellent calibration curve, there were some discrepancies within the experiment, which, if fixed according to the future directions and discussion of this report, may result in the finding of other phthalates or compounds of interest.
DETECTION OF GLYCEROL CONCENTRATION IN PERSONAL LUBRICANTS VIA PERIODATE OXIDATION
Kelsey Buell
This report presents the analytical method of using periodate oxidation to detect the concentration of glycerol among three distinct brands (Sliquid, Oasis and Astroglide) of personal lubricants, two being water-based and one being silicone-based. Out of the three samples, one brand claims to be glycerin-free. Multiple experimental trials took place throughout the course of this study in an attempt to demonstrate whether or not the glycerin-free brand had the potential of containing even the slightest amount of glycerin, as well as having this study investigate the extent to how much glycerin concentration the remaining two brands contained. The results indicated confirmed that of the three brands, Sliquid and Astroglide contained no glycerin as opposed to the expected presence of glycerin in Oasis.
Analysis of the Presence of Heptyl Paraben in Black Cherry and Grapefruit Flavored White Claw
Lindsay Sovchik
Parabens are esters of para-hydroxybenzoic acid, and are commonly used as preservatives in cosmetics, pharmaceutical products, and food and drink products, including alcoholic beverages. Common parabens include methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, and heptylparaben. Heptylparaben is the most commonly found paraben used in alcoholic beverages, as it is observed to be most effective at preventing the growth of yeast and bacteria present when alcohol becomes spoiled. Usage of parabens should be under great attention, as they have been linked to breast cancer as well as male infertility and are known to be slight endocrine disrupters as their chemical structure is similar to estrogen and are able to mimic the hormone’s activity in the body. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was utilized to determine the presence or absence of heptylparaben as a preservative in two flavors of White Claw® Hard Seltzer, an alcoholic beverage with increasing popularity. A calibration curve was prepared using heptylparaben standards in concentration range of 0.47 to 60 ppm. Data was compared against spiked concentration samples containing proportions of the paraben for accuracy. No traces of heptylparaben were found in either samples of the hard seltzers, however there were noticeable unknown contaminants present, with possibility of presence of another paraben with a decreasing carbon number of the ester group.
Determining Potential Contamination of Arsenic, Cadmium and Lead in Infant Formula
Maansi Raheja, B.S.
Infant formula is the top source of nutrients for babies 12 months and younger. When a child is born, brands like, Similac infant formula, is the leading supplier at many hospitals and provided for families. Since it is an FDA approved product there should be no worry for expecting moms that their child will be receiving the best brands, that is pediatrician recommended. Enfamil has also been on the market of being one of the top brands out there for infant formula. Investigating these two brands has been the focus of this research to determine if there has been any chance of toxic metal contamination. Samples went through a filtration process in order to separate any contaminants and determine the concentration using generated concentration curves. Levels of contaminants such as Arsenic, Cadmium and Lead were then detected through the ICP-OES (Inductively Coupled Plasma- Optical Emission Spectrometer). It would be ideal to further investigate into other off-market brands or for the detection of other harmful contaminants.
Determining Quantities of Bisphenol-A, Bisphenol-S and Bisphenol-F in Chewing gum
Tracy Kongai
There has been an increase in awareness regarding the potential harm caused by ingesting bisphenol-A. This compound has been linked to multiple health risks including obesity, heart disease, cancer in both children and adults. As this compound is found in many common products that often meet consumable goods, both manufactures, and consumers are exploring means to either find compounds to replace it or an effective means to limit its effect on an individual. Potential replacement for Bisphenol-A are Bisphenol-F and Bisphenol-S, however, even small concentrations of BPS and BPF may disrupt the function of one’s cells in a way similar to BPA. The objective of this study was to determine the quantities of bisphenol-A, bisphenol-S and bisphenol-F in two types of chewing gum: Glee gum and orbit gum (spiked and un-spiked). High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) was used to analyze the samples. HPLC was used because it pumps an analyte in a solvent at high pressure through a column with chromatographic material. BPS, BPF and BPA were detected in both spiked orbit and glee gum, but spiked glee had significantly higher concentration levels of BPS, BPF and BPA compared to spiked orbit gum. BPA and BPF were not detected in any of the un-spiked orbit or glee gum samples, but BPS was detected in only un-spiked orbit gum. The detection of BPS in Orbit was due to equipment handling; therefore, the results were concluded as invalid. Thus, in both types of gum, there was no compound detection.
Determination of Phosphate in Tinker’s Creek
Marybeth Duke
In this experiment, the concentration of phosphate in Tinker’s Creek will be determined to analyze Lake Erie’s water quality and consider if it is in danger of becoming a dead zone. Standards and stock solutions of phosphate, hydrazine, sulfuric acid and molybdate ammonium were prepared. Blue complex solutions were tested using a UV-Vis Spectrophotometer. Zero phosphates were found in the un-spiked samples. The samples that were spiked to 20 ppm phosphate yielded about 25 ppm phosphate. More testing, in addition to this experiment, needs to happen in order to make conclusions about the water quality of Tinker’s Creek and Lake Erie.
Determination of Cadmium, Aluminum, and Lead in Tampax Tampons
Lyanna Pérez
Cotton, a ubiquitous material, has the characteristic of high absorbency, which makes it particularly useful for women during menstruation. However, due to this characteristic, cotton has the potential to absorb chemicals and materials from the soil or that are distributed onto the plant, such as pesticides. Heavy metals such as cadmium, aluminum, and lead are known to be toxic and have various negative impacts on health. These metals are some of the more commonly found and utilized metals in the world. Toxic-shock syndrome, a health complication, is known to be associated with tampon use and has been shown to be susceptible to some heavy metals. The purpose of this experiment was to determine the presence of cadmium, aluminum, and lead in Tampax Pearl tampons (one of the most advertised and used brands), and the amount that could be recovered from samples spiked with these metals.
THE OVER PERSERVATION OF COSMETICS WITH PARABENS
Sara Saleh Terkawi
Parabens are commonly used in pharmaceuticals, food, and cosmetics as preservatives to prevent microbial growth. Recent studies have shown that excess of parabens in cosmetics is causing allergies and endocrine disruption in humans. The main objective of this experiment is to measure the concentration of methylparaben, ethylparaben, and propyl paraben in three different brands of skin care using the HPLC. The results showed that the products Mario Badescu (MB) and Ponds (P), who stated to use parabens in their formulation, did not exceed the limit of 0.4%, which is the permitted concentration of methylparaben and ethylparaben.
Heavy Metal Detection in Vegan Dietary Protein Supplementation
Oise Omoijuanfo
Protein powder is a common dietary supplementation that is frequently consumed. Modern farming techniques could potentially predispose certain “organic” protein powders to heavy metal contamination. Two protein powders marketed either as “vegan” or “organic” were filtered and then run through inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP). The results indicated that no significant amounts of lead were detected in either protein powder. However difficulty in filtering the protein samples could play a role in skewing the results.
Comparative study of the Iron content in organic and conventional spinach using Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-OES) technique.
Umida Burkhanova. Ola Abuhamdeh.
The aim of the present research project was to evaluate the iron content of organic and conventional spinach. In this study, the determination of Iron using the Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-OES) technique was performed to measure and compare the concentrations of iron in one type of organic and one type of conventional spinach. The spinach samples, initially digested in Hydrochloric acid, were diluted in 2% Nitric acid and analyzed by ICP-OES, which results in a good sensitive method for the determination of Iron concentration in the samples. As it was initially predicted, the organic samples showed significantly higher level of iron content in both spiked and not spiked samples. The general conclusion for these findings supports the initial hypothesis showing that organic spinach is higher in iron content than the conventional spinach. The findings possess a significant value for people with iron deficiency or anemic patients.
Ethylparaben Determination of Air Freshener Spray Samples
Zain Majeed and Jordan Benner
Parabens are on the list of TACs (Toxic Air Contaminants) and have been previously detected in cosmetics, foods, and household cleaning products. They are an industrial preservative that prevent microbial growth. They have been linked to a variety of health issues, such as skin and breast cancer, hormone disruption and other endocrine issues, developmental issues, reproductive issues, allergic reactions, and respiratory problems. Air fresheners contain a large number and variety of different ingredients that are questionably toxic. We collected similar fragrance types (Linen and Apple scented) of Glade and Febreze, and ran them through HPLC instrumentation to test for ethylparaben. We found excessive amounts of this TAC in all samples.
Determination of Lead in Liquid Lipsticks by Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectroscopy
Allyson Ball
Independent Study, CHM 379
Lead is a metal that is considered to be a carcinogenic. A carcinogenic means it has the potential to cause cancer. During the production of cosmetics, such as lipsticks, these cosmetics can be contaminated with metals. These metals are not actual ingredients in the cosmetics they get introduced during the production process. The research done compared the amount of Lead found in two different brands of liquid lipsticks. While conducting this experiment the Inductively Coupled Plasma – Optical Emission Spectroscopy, ICP-OES, was used to determine the intensity of the Lead in these samples. The colors of the samples between the two brands were kept consistent to stop variability. During these experiments it was found that some lead was found in small amounts that were below FDA standards for lead in cosmetics.
Arsenic and Lead contamination of cemetery soil
Alicia Pearson
With environmental quality at the forefront of worldwide concern, heavy metal leachate from
cemeteries has come into question. (Spongberg and Becks 2000) Heavy metals of interest are arsenic, lead, mercury, cadmium due to funerary furniture and embalming/body preservation techniques. For this analysis, lead and arsenic were studied.
Analysis of Hg, Cd, and Pb Content in Plant Based Facial Cleansers by Means of ICP (Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectroscopy)
Israa Salem
Recently, concern has been raised regarding the heavy metal content of consumer products used daily, such as facial cleansers. Plants may uptake metals from the soil they are cultivated in, causing plant-based products to potentially contain these harmful substances. Additionally, Products may be contaminated through industrial processes and equipment. St. Ives Fresh Skin Apricot Scrub, Equate Beauty Blemish Control Apricot Scrub, CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser, and Burt’s Bees Peach & Willow Bark Deep Pore Scrub were tested in this experiment. Using ICP-OES (Inductively coupled plasma – optical emission spectrometry), the relative amounts of three harmful metals, including mercury (Hg), cadmium (Cd), and lead (Pb) were determined. In the end, negligible amounts of any heavy metals were discovered if at all present.
Determining Concentration of Bisphenol S, F and A in Non-Latex Polyurethane Condoms and Their Packages, Using HPLC-UV
Karlina Kegecik and Joanne Wazni
Bisphenols are a group of endocrine disruptor chemicals that are hazardous for the human body. Since the 1960’s they have become an industrial chemical produced in large volume in plastic polymers. Many applications include food and drink packaging, medical and sport equipment or water and infant bottles. Since vulnerability to these chemicals have become widespread, people have started to be concerned about bisphenols. Research has showed that bisphenol exposure can result in increasing the risk of Asthma, heart disease and reproductive disorders for couples. The aim of this study was to analyze the presence of bisphenol A, F and S (BPA, BPF and BPS) in Trojan Supra Non-Latex Polyurethane BareSkin synthetic condoms and their packages separately with the use of the HPLC-UV. We have performed 3 sets of spiking tests of our samples. We have observed that BPS was not present in our condom samples. However, we were able to notice a concentration of 0.081 and 0.229 ppm of BPA and BPF respectively in our samples. We calculated a percent recovery of 35.64% and 38.23% in our unspiked solutions. On the other hand, bisphenols in the packages were being masked on the HPLC graph with the presence of broad peaks during the retention times of the chemical. For future studies, we will run our sample with the LCMS and obtain detailed information on the chemicals that compose our samples.
BPA Levels in Different Species of Fish Caught in the Atlantic
Jonathan Naticchia
Microplastics have become omnipresent in the world, contaminating the soil, air, and water. These microplastics can transfer from the environment through the food chain to humans. The objective of this research is to determine if Bisphenol A (BPA) levels differ among fish caught in the Atlantic Ocean. This objective will be demonstrated by using 4 separate mature samples of swordfish, yellowfin tuna, mako shark and halibut from the Atlantic Ocean. BPA levels found in the edible muscle tissue will be determined and relationship between the species of fish and the BPA levels found will be created.