Photolysis of [14C]Bisphenol A in Japanese Environmental Water under Simulated Solar Irradiation

Photolysis of [14C]bisphenol A (BPA) was studied in the Japanese environmental water under simulated solar irradiation. Calculated half-lives of BPA under the natural sunlight were approximately 10.8 days in water from the Ushiku Marsh and 12.7 days in water from the Kokai River. Photodegradation rates of BPA in the environmental water were about 5∼6 times faster than that in the pure water. It was assumed that BPA in the environmental water was degraded mostly by indirect photolysis. Major degradation products included 2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-propanol and carbon dioxide. Mineralization of BPA by photolysis in the environmental water was observed. It was considered that dissolved organic matter and nitrate ion had photosensitizing effects for BPA.