The Effect of Storage Time, Temperature and Type of Packaging on the Release of Phthalate Esters into Packed Acidic Liquids

The concentration of phthalates in drinking water in Iran: A systematic review and meta-analysis

PAE and PC polymers, such as BPA, are utilized to make water bottles. Due to the lack of polymer-chemical interaction, PAE can enter drinking bottles during production, wrapping, and keeping. Phthalates can transfer from the bottle to the water depending on keeping conditions (temperature, time, sunlight intensity), pH, and bottle capacity. Since there haven't been previous studies published on the subject, the aim of this meta-analysis and systematic review research is to determine the level of phthalates in drinking water consumed in Iranian cities. Web of Science, Science of Direct, Scopus, and PubMed, databases have been used in this study. Eight studies were selected from 556 initial publications after screening for duplication and irrelevant information. Articles from January 1, 2000, to February 10, 2024, were found in the mentioned databases. Among the types of phthalates, the concentration of DEHP was reported higher than the others Because its concentration has been reported in seven out of eight studies. The highest concentration of DEHP was reported by Mehraie(2.22 µg/l), Zare Jeddi (0.8 µg/l), Yousefi (0.77 µg/l), Abtahi (0.76 µg/l), Zare Jeddi (0.42 µg/l), Abdolahnejad(0.15 µg/l), and Pourzamani (0.08 µg/l). The highest concentration of DEP, DBP, BBP, and PA was reported by Abtahi (0.77 µg/l) and Esteki (2.25 µg/l), Mehraie(0.93 µg/l), and Pourzamani (0.83 µg/l). The results of this study showed that the most important phthalates measured in drinking water include DEP, DEHP, DBP, BBP, and PA. According to the results of the present studies, the most important factor in the increase of phthalates is the storage conditions of drinking water (temperature, sunlight, and the type of pipe or bottle).

A review of endocrine disrupting chemicals migration from food contact materials into beverages

A significant and pressing issue revolves around the potential human exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), which pose a substantial risk primarily through contaminated beverages. However, a comprehensive review for comparison of the migration rates of EDCs into these matrixes is currently lacking. This study reviews the beverages contamination with EDCs, including phthalates (PAEs), bisphenol A (BPA), hormone-like compounds, elements, and other organic EDCs. Also, the EDCs migration into milk and other dairy products, coffee, tea, and cold beverages related to their release from contact materials, preparation components, and storage conditions are briefly summarized. The data illustrates that besides the contamination of raw materials, the presence of EDCs associated with the type of food contact materials (FCMs)and their migration rate is increased with acidity, temperature, and storage time. The highest concentration of PAEs was detected from plastic and synthetic polymer films, while BPA strongly leaches from epoxy resins and canned metal. Furthermore, the presence of elements with endocrine disrupting characteristics was confirmed in cold beverages, soft drinks, hot drink and milk. Moreover, hormone-like compounds have been found to be released from coffee preparation components. Despite the few data about the migration rate of other EDCs including UV-stabilizers, surfactants, and antibacterial compounds into beverages, their presence was reported into milk, coffee, and different beverages, especially in packed samples. Studies on the EDCs leaching have primarily focused on PAEs and BPA, while other compounds require further investigation. Regardless, the possible risk that EDCs pose to humans through beverage consumption cannot be overlooked.

Influence of leachate microenvironment on the occurrence of phthalate esters in landfills

Phthalate esters (PAEs) are added to various products as plasticizers. Plastic waste containing PAEs enters landfills as they age with use. However, the influence of microenvironmental changes on the occurrence of PAEs during landfill stabilization is still unknown. In this study, we evaluated the relationship between the physical and chemical properties of leachate, the structure of bacterial communities and the chemical structure of dissolved organic matter (DOM), and the occurrence of PAEs and the mechanism underlying their responses to changes. Landfill leachate in different stabilization states had high Cl- and NH4+ contents and its metal element (Cr, Pb, and Zn) contents generally decreased with the increase in landfill ages. Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Firmicutes were important phyla and had an average relative abundance of 68.63%. The lignin/carboxylate-rich alicyclic molecule structure was the main component of DOM (56%-64%). Of the 6-priority controlled PAEs in leachate, di-n-butyl phthalate was the most abundant (1046 μg L-1), while butyl phthalate was not detected. The results showed that pH, the relative abundance of Chloroflexi, and the value of SUVA254 can directly influence the occurrence of PAEs in leachate. The positive and negative effects vary depending on the PAE content and molecular weight. DBP and DEHP have higher environmental risks in the aquatic system. These results are intended to provide a scientific basis for the evolutionary characterization of the microenvironment in complex environmental systems and the control of novel contaminants, such as PAEs.

Full life cycle and sustainability transitions of phthalates in landfill: A review

Phthalates (PAEs) are added to various products as a plasticizer. As these products age and are disposed of, plastic waste containing PAEs enters the landfill. The landfill environment is complicated and can be regarded as a "black box". Also, PAEs do not bind with the polymer matrix. Therefore, when a series of physical chemistry and biological reactions occur during the stabilization of landfills, PAEs leach from waste and migrate to the surrounding environmental media, thereby contaminating the surrounding soil, water ecosystems, and atmosphere. Although research on PAEs has achieved progress over the years, they are mainly concentrated on a particular aspect of PAEs in the landfill; there are fewer inquiries on the life cycle of PAEs. In this study, we review the presence of PAEs in the landfill in the following aspects: (1) the main source of PAEs in landfills; (2) the impact of the landfill environment on PAE migration and conversion; (3) distribution and transmedia migration of PAEs in aquatic ecosystems, soils, and atmosphere; and (4) PAE management and control in the landfill and future research direction. The purpose is to track the life cycle of PAEs in landfills, provide scientific basis for in-depth understanding of the migration and transformation of PAEs and environmental pollution control in landfills, and new ideas for the sustainable utilization of landfills.

Migration study of phthalates from non-food plastic containers used in food preservation

Phthalate acid esters (PAE) are used as additives in the formulation of plastics, to increase their flexibility and transparency. They can migrate from plastic packaging to food, then cause endocrine disruption in consumers. This migration depends on the conditions of use defined for each plastic. Non-food plastics are likely to release more PAE than food-grade plastics. In Cameroon, non-food grade plastics such as old paint buckets are used by people to preserve liquid food. The present work aimed at studying the conditions and mechanism of migration of total PAE from paint buckets to pap. For this purpose, the effects of seven factors were determined through Plackett-Burman experimental design. The interactions of the most influential factors were determined through a full factorial design. The conditions of the migration of total PAE were obtained via face-centered composite design. Then experimental results of migration kinetics were modelled according to equations of pseudo-first order, pseudo-second order and intra-particle diffusion. The results revealed that the most influential factors were pH, temperature and contact time. The effects of these factors are non-linear, and their interactions have to be considered. When pap is preserved in paint buckets according to the conditions: temperature of pap >70 °C, pH of pap ≤4 or ≥10 and contact time > 2 h, as is the case in donut shops in Cameroon, the amount of total PAE released is greater than 50 μg/L. Migration of total PAE from paint buckets to pap is best described by the pseudo-second order model.

Unpacking the complexity of the polyethylene food contact articles value chain: A chemicals perspective

Polyethylene (PE) is the most widely used type of plastic food packaging, in which chemicals can potentially migrate into packaged foods. The implications of using and recycling PE from a chemical perspective remain underexplored. This study is a systematic evidence map of 116 studies looking at the migration of food contact chemicals (FCCs) across the lifecycle of PE food packaging. It identified a total of 377 FCCs, of which 211 were detected to migrate from PE articles into food or food simulants at least once. These 211 FCCs were checked against the inventory FCCs databases and EU regulatory lists. Only 25% of the detected FCCs are authorized by EU regulation for the manufacture of food contact materials. Furthermore, a quarter of authorized FCCs exceeded the specific migration limit (SML) at least once, while one-third (53) of non-authorised FCCs exceeded the threshold value of 10 μg/kg. Overall, evidence on FCCs migration across the PE food packaging lifecycle is incomplete, especially at the reprocessing stage. Considering the EU's commitment to increase packaging recycling, a better understanding and monitoring of PE food packaging quality from a chemical perspective across the entire lifecycle will enable the transition towards a sustainable plastics value chain.

Application of wastewater-based epidemiology for estimating population-wide human exposure to phthalate esters, bisphenols, and terephthalic acid

Phthalates, bisphenols (BPs), and terephthalic acid (TPA) are widely used plasticizers and monomers in plastic manufacturing. Most of them are known to have an adverse effect on the human body, functioning as endocrine disruptors and suspected carcinogens. Access to near real-time data on population exposure to plasticizers is essential for identifying vulnerable communities and better protecting and managing public health locally. The objective of the present study was to evaluate population-level exposure to phthalates, BPs, and TPA by measuring urinary metabolites in community wastewater. Composited community wastewater (24-h samples) from five sewer sub-catchments of a southwestern city within the United States were analyzed for urinary biomarkers of phthalates, BPs, and TPA using solid-phase extraction-liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry in conjunction with the isotope dilution method for absolute quantification. Ten of 16 analytes were detected at least once in community wastewater above the method detection limit (MDL), with MDLs ranging from 37 to 203 ng/L. The population normalized mass load of TPA was the highest, followed by the human metabolite of di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP). Bisphenol S and monoethyl phthalate were detected with the highest frequency. Study findings suggest that analyzing municipal wastewater for chemical indicators of human exposure to plastic constituents is feasible, practicable, and informative, as long as appropriate steps are taken to determine, quantify and account for background levels of plastic analytes in the laboratory environment.

Occurrence, seasonal distribution, and ecological risk assessment of microplastics and phthalate esters in leachates of a landfill site located near the marine environment: Bushehr port, Iran as a case

Plastic wastes are produced in a large amount everywhere, and are commonly disposed in landfills. So landfill leachate seems an obvious source of microplastics (MPs) and phthalate esters (PAEs) due to a huge usage as plastic additives and plasticizers. But this issue still lacks attention and the present study provides the first information on the levels of MPs and PAEs in the fresh landfill leachate of Bushehr port during different seasons. The mean levels of MPs and PAEs in the fresh leachate in all seasons were 79.16 items/L and 3.27 mg/L, respectively. Also, the mean levels of PAEs in MPs were 48.33 μg/g. A statistically significant difference was detected in the levels of MPs and PAEs among different seasons with the highest values in summer and fall. MPs with a size of >1000 μm had the highest abundance in all seasons. The most prominent shape, color, and type of MPs in the leachate were fibers black, and nylon, respectively. Dibutyl phthalate (DBP) and Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) were the most dominant PAEs present in the leachate samples. The results of this study revealed high hazard index (HI) and pollution load index (PLI) of MPs in all seasons. Dioctyl phthalate (DOP), DEHP, DBP, diisobutyl phthalate (DiBP), butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP), and diethyl phthalate (DEP) represented a high risk to the sensitive organisms. The results of this study showed that significant levels of MPs and PAEs may release into the surrounding environment from the landfill sites without sufficient protection. This issue is more critical when the landfill sites in particular are located near the marine environments like the Bushehr landfill that is located near the Persian Gulf, which can lead to serious environmental problems. Thus permanent control and monitor of landfills, especially in the coastal areas are highly needed to prevent further pollution.

Unpacking the complexity of the PET drink bottles value chain: A chemicals perspective

Chemicals can migrate from polyethylene terephthalate (PET) drink bottles to their content and recycling processes may concentrate or introduce new chemicals to the PET value chain. Therefore, even though recycling PET bottles is key in reducing plastic pollution, it may raise concerns about safety and quality. This study provides a systematic evidence map of the food contact chemicals (FCCs) that migrate from PET drink bottles aiming to identify challenges in closing the plastic packaging loop. The migration potential of 193 FCCs has been investigated across the PET drink bottles lifecycle, of which 150 have been detected to migrate from PET bottles into food simulants/food samples. The study reveals that much research has focused on the migration of antimony (Sb), acetaldehyde and some well-known endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs). It indicates and discusses the key influential factors on FCCs migration, such as physical characteristics and geographical origin of PET bottles, storage conditions, and reprocessing efficiency . Although, safety and quality implications arising from the recycling of PET bottles remain underexplored, the higher migration of Sb and Bishphenol A has been reported in recycled (rPET) compared to virgin PET. This is attributed to multiple contamination sources and the variability in the collection, sorting, and decontamination efficiency. Better collaboration among stakeholders across the entire PET bottles lifecycle is needed to ensure sustainable resource management and food contact safety of rPET.

Urinary phthalate metabolite concentrations and serum hormone levels in pre- and perimenopausal women from the Midlife Women's Health Study

BACKGROUND

Phthalate exposure is associated with altered reproductive function, but little is known about associations between phthalate and hormone levels in midlife women.

METHODS

This cross-sectional analysis includes 45-54-year-old pre- and perimenopausal women from Baltimore, MD and its surrounding counties enrolled in the Midlife Women's Health Study (n = 718). Serum and urine samples were collected from participants once a week for four consecutive weeks to span the menstrual cycle. Serum samples were assayed for estradiol, testosterone, progesterone, sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), and geometric means were calculated for each hormone across all four weeks. Urine samples were analyzed for nine phthalate metabolites from pools of one-to-four urine samples. Phthalate metabolite concentrations were specific gravity-adjusted and assessed as individual metabolites or as molar sums of metabolites from common parents (di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate metabolites, ∑DEHP), exposure sources (plastic, ∑Plastics; personal care products, ∑PCP), biological activity (anti-androgenic, ∑AA), and sum of all metabolites (∑Phthalates). We used linear regression models to assess overall associations of phthalate metabolites with hormones, controlling for important demographic, lifestyle, and health factors. We also explored whether associations differed by menopause status, body mass index (BMI), and race/ethnicity.

RESULTS

Most participants were non-Hispanic white (67%) or black (29%), college-educated (65%), employed (80%), and had somewhat higher mean urinary phthalate metabolite concentrations than other U.S. women. Overall, the following positive associations were observed between phthalate metabolites and hormones: ∑DEHP (%Δ: 4.9; 95%CI: 0.5, 9.6), ∑Plastics (%Δ: 5.1; 95%CI: 0.3, 10.0), and ∑AA (%Δ: 7.8; 95%CI: 2.3, 13.6) with estradiol; MiBP (%Δ: 6.6; 95%CI: 1.5, 12.1) with testosterone; ∑DEHP (%Δ: 8.3; 95%CI: 1.5, 15.6), ∑Plastics (%Δ: 9.8; 95%CI: 2.4, 17.7), MEP (%Δ: 4.6; 95%CI: 0.1, 9.2), ∑PCP (%Δ: 6.0; 95%CI: 0.2, 12.2), ∑Phthalates (%Δ: 9.0; 95%CI: 2.1, 16.5), and ∑AA (%Δ: 12.9; 95%CI: 4.4, 22.1) with progesterone; and MBP (%Δ: 8.5; 95%CI: 1.2, 16.3) and ∑AA (%Δ: 9.0; 95%CI: 1.3, 17.4) with AMH. Associations of phthalate metabolites with hormones differed by menopause status (strongest in premenopausal women for estradiol, progesterone, and FSH), BMI (strongest in obese women for progesterone), and race/ethnicity (strongest in non-Hispanic white women for estradiol and AMH).

CONCLUSIONS

We found that phthalate metabolites were positively associated with several hormones in midlife women, and that some demographic and lifestyle characteristics modified these associations. Future longitudinal studies are needed to corroborate these findings in more diverse midlife populations.

Occurrence, migration and health risk of phthalates in tap water, barreled water and bottled water in Tianjin, China

This study was to investigate the occurrence, migration and health risk of phthalic acid esters (PAEs) in tap water, barreled water and bottled water in Tianjin, China. Six priority controlled PAEs were measured, among which the detection frequency of butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP), dibutyl phthalate (DBP) and di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) was 100%, while the others were not detected. The concentration of DEHP was higher than BBP and DBP in all the samples. The initial ∑₃PAEs concentrations in tap water, barreled water and bottled water were 2.409 ± 0.391 μg/L, 1.495 ± 0.213 μg/L and 1.963 ± 0.160 μg/L, respectively. Boiling tap water could reduce the PAEs content to an extent, but they increased significantly in hot tap water contacting with disposable plastic cups. The migration of PAEs in barreled water and bottled water were positively correlated with storage time and temperature, which could be described by exponential models. The hazard indexes of PAEs in different types of drinking water were very low. However, the human carcinogenic risks of DEHP will reach the maximum acceptable risk level of 10^-6 when bottled water is stored for 8.8 days at 40 °C, 7.7 days at 50 °C, or 6.1 days at 60 °C.

Toxicology of alcohol-based hand rubs formulated with technical-grade ethanol

Alcohol-based hand rubs (ABHRs) formulated with technical-grade ethanol were temporarily permitted in Canada and the U.S beginning April 2020 to meet the current demand due to COVID-19. ABHRs formulated with technical-grade ethanol are low risk for general use. In this review, we discuss the toxicity of common contaminants found in technical-grade ethanol, as well as contaminants that may have been introduced into the products during formulation and packaging of ABHRs. Although primary route of exposure is via dermal absorption and inhalation, there have been reported elevated concerns regarding to ingestion of ABHRs. Overall, the highest risks were associated with methanol (for its toxicity), ethyl acetate (skin defattening), and acetaldehyde (carcinogenic and teratogenic). For these reasons Health Canada and the United States Food and Drug Administration have issued recalls on products containing some of these contaminants. More vigilant policing by regulatory agencies and general product users are required to ensure compliance, safety, and efficacy of these new products, as demand continue to rise during this unprecedented pandemic.

Detection of phthalate esters in PET bottled drinks and lake water using esterase/PANI/CNT/CuNP based electrochemical biosensor

Phthalate esters (PEs) are the most common plasticizers that tends to exhibit endocrine disruption. Since, these PEs are used in the manufacture of PET bottles and PVC products: point of exposure magnifies up on consumption of PET bottle and plastic container stored drinking water and beverages. Apart from human exposure to PEs, bioaccumulation of PEs and toxic effects among wildlife also seems to be divergent. In the present study, an enzyme-based biosensor for the detection of PEs was developed to overcome the tedious extraction procedures involving PE extraction and sophisticated instruments for the detection. Linear Sweep voltammetry analysis of Nafion (NF) surface modified glassy carbon electrode with esterase (EST) and nano-components was carried-out. Peak potential of individual PEs were in the range of -1.72 to -1.82 V at the concentration of 1 × 10^-5 mmol L^-1. Sensitivity of EST/PANI/CNT/CuNP-NF modified GCE was determined in terms of detection limit and was calibrated to be 0.03-0.08 nmol L^-1. Thus, the developed enzyme based electrochemical sensor could be successfully employed in determining PE exposure in humans and bioaccumulation among aquatic flora and fauna via., consumption of PET bottle stored drinks and industrial effluents discharged into the lakes.

Worldwide bottled water occurrence of emerging contaminants: A review of the recent scientific literature

Contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) have recently been detected in bottled water and have brought about discussions on possible risks for human health. However, a systematic review of CECs in bottled water is currently lacking due to the relatively new introduction and/or detection of these pollutants. Hence, this paper reviews the existing studies on the presence of six major groups of emerging contaminants including microplastics (MPs), pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs), bisphenol A (BPA), phthalates, alkylphenols (APs), and perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in bottled water from different countries. Also, the findings related to CECs' levels, their possible sources, and their risks are summarized. The gathered data indicate that MPs within the size range of 1-5 μm are the most predominant and potentially toxic classes of MPs in bottled water. In addition, PPCPs, PFASs, APs, and BPA occur in concentration levels of ng/L, while phthalates occur in the μg/L level in bottled water. The bottle type plays an important role in the contamination level. As expected, water in plastic bottles with plastic caps is more polluted than in glass bottles. However, other sources of contamination such as contact materials during cleaning, bottling, and storage are not negligible. Based on the gathered data in this review, the CEC levels except for MPs (no threshold values) in bottled water of most countries do not raise a safety concern for the human. However, the occurrence of individual CECs and their association in bottled water need more accurate data to understand their own/synergistic effects on human health.

Phthalates levels in olive oils and olive pomace oils marketed in Turkey

Phthalates are used as additives and plasticisers in packaging for personal care and food products. Several investigations reported the harmful impact of phthalates on human health. In this study, different types of olive oils (12 olive oil; 20 extra virgin oil; 4 refined pomace oil) in different packaging materials [polyethylene terephthalate (PET), glass and metal] obtained from local markets in Turkey in 2019, were analysed using GC-MS for the presence of benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP), di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), diisononyl phthalate (DINP), dibutyl phthalate (DBP), and diisodecyl phthalate (DIDP). The average recoveries of the 5 phthalates in olive oils were 87%-100%, with limits of quantification (LOQs) of 0.09-2.28 mg/kg. DEHP was the abundant phthalate in all olive oil samples ranging from below the LOQ (0.23 mg/kg) to 602 mg/kg. In all analysed samples, the levels of DINP and DIDP were less than their LOQ, thus these phthalates were not detected. The highest DEHP content was found in an olive oil sample containing 602 mg/kg, whilst 5 samples did not contain detectable phthalate esters.

Global review of phthalates in edible oil: An emerging and nonnegligible exposure source to human

This work investigated the presence of seven major phthalates in nine different kinds of edible oils (i.e. olive, rapeseed, peanut, sesame, tea seed, corn, soybean, sunflower, and blended oil) and their potential impacts on human. The respective total average phthalates concentrations in the oils studied were found to be 6.01, 2.79, 2.63, 2.03, 1.73, 1.66, 1.57, 1.26, and 0.72 mg/kg. On the other hand, the seven main phthalates in the edible oils with the average concentration ranked from high to low were in order of DiNP, DEHP, DiDP, DBP, DiBP, DEP, and BBP, with 0.90, 0.81, 0.79, 0.71, 0.22, 0.17, and 0.10 mg/kg, respectively. The estimated maximum human daily intakes (EDI) of DEHP, DBP, DiBP, DiNP, BBP, DEP, and DiDP via edible oils were determined to be 552, 2996, 121, 356, 268, 66, and 563 μg/p/d, respectively. It was further revealed that the maximum human EDI of DEHP, DBP, BBP, and DiBP through consumption of edible oils were 2.92, 6.79, 1.24, and 1.06 times higher than those via bottled water. The calculated average estrogenic equivalence (EEQ) values of the seven major phthalates in edible oils fell into the range of 2.7-958.1 ng E₂/L, which were 45-396 times of those in bottled water. With published works, the complete distributions of 15 phthalates in nine kinds of edible oils were established and assessed for the health risks based on EDI and EEQ. This work provided the first evidence that edible oil is a potential source of phthalates, thus the potential adverse estrogenic effects on human health should need to be assessed in a holistic manner.

Effect of sous-vide heat treatment on the phthalic acid esters content in meat

The aim of the study was to monitor the migration of the phthalic acid esters dibutyl phthalate (DBP) and di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) from packaging to meat wrapped in plastic when heat treated by sous-vide method. A heat treatment temperature of 80 °C was used for 4 and 8 hours with reheating at 80 °C for 1 hour. The average DBP and DEHP concentrations in meat ranged from 2.24 to 4.66 mg.kg-1 and 2.29 to 10.35 mg.kg-1 of the original sample, respectively. The average DBP and DEHP concentrations found in plastic packaging ranged from 3.06 to 6.37 µg.g-1 and 5.70 to 7.83 µg.g-1 of plastic, respectively. The average concentrations of DBP in water bath range from 16.25 to 23.38 µg.l-1, while the average concentrations of DEHP in water bath were determined between 0.24 and 1.82 µg.l-1. The above results were compared with the results measured at sous-vide treatment temperature of 70 °C for 4 hours, 8 hours, and with 1 hour of reheating. The average concentrations of DBP and DEHP in all meat samples exceeded the specific migration limits of both phthalates (0.3 mg.kg-1 for DBP and 1.5 mg.kg-1 for DEHP).

The concentrations of phthalic acid esters in a water bath at sous-vide heat treatment

Esters of phthalic acid are common contaminants of the environment because of their large application in plastics. Phthalic acid esters are used as plasticizers in plastics, and they are also used in plastic intended for contact with food. In our research, we investigated the influence of heating on the migration of phthalic acid esters into the water used as a water bath. The water bath was used to heat the vacuum-wrapped meat, this heating is called the sous-vide method. The plastic thermostable bags containing phthalates were used on the meat packaging. Two esters of phthalic acid dibutyl phthalate (DBP) and di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) have been determined. Three packaged meat samples were heated in a water bath for one hour either at 50 °C or at 60 °C. The water was analyzed always before the heating and after the heating. Average DEHP concentrations in the water dropped after heating at 50 °C in two cases and average DBP concentrations rose in one case and declined in one case. Average DBP concentrations in water declined after heating at 60 °C, while average DEHP concentrations after heating at 60 °C in water increased. The concentrations of phthalic acid esters in the water ranged from 15.2311 μg.L-1 to 34.5645 μg.L-1 for DEHP and from 0.0433 μg.L-1 to 2.6529 μg.L-1 for DBP. The heating of vacuum-packed food in plastic phthalate bags in a water bath does not pose a great risk of contamination of water with phthalic acid esters.

Dermal bioaccessibility of plasticizers in indoor dust and clothing

Several studies indicate that human exposure to plasticizers via dermal pathway is not negligible, but the dermal bioaccessibility of phthalates and alternative plasticizers from the important environmental matrix including indoor dust and clothing and the importance weight of dermal exposure to those pollutants have been poorly studied. An in vitro physiologically based extraction test was employed to investigate the dermal bioaccessibility of target phthalates and alternative plasticizers from indoor dust and clothing. Temperature, incubation time, sweat/sebum ratio and solid/liquid ratio were selected to study their effects on the bioaccessibility. The bioaccessibility of Diethyl phthalates (DEP), dibutyl phthalate (DBP), bis-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), Acetyl tributyl citrate (ATBC), bis-2-ethylhexyladipate (DEHA) and bis-2-ethylhexyl terephthalate (DEHT) in indoor dust were 66.20 ± 1.93%, 94.27 ± 1.31%, 80.37 ± 8.09%, 75.02 ± 2.12%, 94.50 ± 3.42% and 74.09 ± 3.79%, respectively, under the condition of 1:1 sweat/sebum ratio, 1/100 solid/liquid ratio (indoor dust), 1:1 area/area ratio (1:1, clothing) and 90 min incubation time at 36.3 °C which are chosen based on the experimental results and human physical conditions. DBP showed the highest bioaccessibility in all samples. The time course of the plasticizer release was fitted to a first-order one-compartment model. DBP showed the highest release rate (k₁) calculated from the model, which was consistent with the bioaccessibility result. Risk assessment indicated that dermal exposure of DBP was an important exposure route, accounting for about 21.58% of total intake, and indoor dust was an important exposure media when considering the dermal bioaccessibility.

Migration and potential risk of trace phthalates in bottled water: A global situation

Increasing attention has been dedicated to trace phthalates in bottled water due to the serious concerns on public health, while there is still a lack of systematic analysis and assessment of current global situation. Through analyzing five representative phthalates in bottled water over 20 countries, this work clearly revealed the phthalates-associated potential risks in both human daily intake and estrogenic effect. In the risk assessment, the kinetic models were also developed to describe and predict phthalates migration. In more than three hundred brands of bottled waters from twenty one countries, the detection frequency of the five targeted phthalates was found to be in the order of dibutyl phthalate (DBP, 67.6%), di-2-(ethyl hexyl) phthalate (DEHP, 61.7%), diethyl phthalate (DEP, 47.1%), benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP, 36.9%), and dimethyl phthalate (DMP, 30.1%). Among the countries studied relating concentrations of DEHP in bottled waters, the top five countries ranked in the order of high to low were Thailand, Croatia, Czech Republic, Saudi Arabia and China with an average level of 61.1, 8.8, 6.3, 6.2 and 6.1 μg/L, respectively. The average levels of BBP, DBP, DMP and DEP in bottled water from Pakistan were high, in which DEP and DMP were ranked 1st among all countries with the average levels of 22.4 and 50.2 μg/L, while BBP and DBP were ranked 2nd and 3rd with the average levels of 7.5 and 17.8 μg/L, respectively. The human daily intake-based risk assessment revealed that phthalates in bottled waters studied would not pose a serious concern on public health. However, the adverse estrogenic effects of phthalates in bottled water from some countries appeared to be significant. This study just shed light on global situation of phthalates in bottled water, and more efforts should be needed to systematically examine the phthalates-related safety of bottled water.

Phthalic acid esters content in yoghurt with chia flour and bamboo fiber during storage time

Phthalic acid esters are plasticizers, they can migrate freely from plastic to their surroundings. They have negative health effects. European legislation sets specific migration limits for phthalic acid esters. In our study, we deal with two esters of phthalic acid, dibutylphtalate (DBP) and di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP). It was studied the effect of storage of four types of yoghurt on the concentration of phthalic acid esters. Yoghurts contained 1% chia flour, 5% chia flour, 1% bamboo fiber and 5% bamboo fiber. Yoghurts were stored in plastic cups, which contained both examined phthalic acid esters. Esters of phthalic acid were determined after 1 week of storage then after 2 weeks of storage and in the original raw material. Furthermore, the pH of the yoghurt was determined. The pH values ”‹”‹were correlated with phthalate concentrations: the correlation coefficient for DBP with a pH of -0.0265 and for DEHP with a pH of 0.3075. Mean concentrations of DEHP decreased over time, while DBP decreased for yoghurt with 1% chia flour, while in other cases they increased. The mean DBP concentrations in yoghurt were higher than the average concentrations of DEHP. Comparing the mean sample values ”‹”‹with t-test for dependent samples for yoghurt of the same type, when comparing the DBP or DEHP concentration in week 1 with the DBP or DEHP concentration at week 2, the mean values ”‹”‹were consistent. It can be noted that there was no increase in DEHP concentrations from cups to yoghurts, which was probably due to a lower concentration in cups than the DBP concentration. DBP concentrations increased in 3 of the 4 types of yoghurt. The determined pH in yoghurts did not differ significantly. Apparently a greater effect on the migration of phthalic acid esters will have in our case a different yoghurt consistency than pH. It would be appropriate to examine the effect of food density on the migration of phthalic acid esters. Likewise, it would be appropriate to examine the effect of pH but in the same food with different pH on the migration of phthalic acid esters.