Search

Packaging materials intended for direct food contact were acquired on the Brazilian retail market and analysed for their plasticizer content. Analyses were carried out by gas chromatography with flame ionization detection. Di-2-ethyl-hexyl adipate (DEHA), di-2-ethyl-hexyl phthalate (DEHP) and di-iso-decyl phthalate (DIDP) plasticizers were identified in films and closure seals in concentrations ranging from 12 to 19% (w/w), 15 to 44% (w/w) and 10 to 11% (w/w), respectively. Brazilian regulations state that for use with foods with a fat content above 5%, the levels of DEHP and DIDP in the plastic material should be no greater than 3%. The results obtained demonstrate a lack of conformity. It would be advisable to include information on the labels of packaging materials about their restrictions of use in order to advise manufacturers and consumers about their proper usage.

Duplicate hospital diet samples obtained over 1 week in 2001 were analysed to estimate the daily intake of plasticizers and the results were compared with those obtained in 1999. The plasticizers quantified in this study were: dibutyl phthalate, butylbenzyl phthalate (BBP), di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), diisononyl phthalate (DINP), di(2-ethylhexyl) adipate (DEHA), diisononyl adipate (DINA) and O-acetyl tributyl citrate (ATBC). Dipropyl, dipentyl, dihexyl and dicyclohexyl phthalate were also analysed but not detected. The analytical procedure for this follow-up study was essentially the same as in the previous one. Detection limits were 0.1-15.6 ng g(-1) for each plasticizer. One-week duplicate diet samples provided by three hospitals in three remote prefectures of Japan were analysed as individual meals. DEHP was detected at 6-675 ng g(-1) in 62 of 63 meals, significantly lower levels compared with those detected in 1999. Levels of DEHA and DINP also decreased. The mean intake of plasticizers estimated from all samples was 160 microg DEHP day(-1), 12.5 microg DEHA day(-1), 4.7 microg DINP day(-1) and 3.4 microg BBP day(-1). Levels of DINA were relatively high in meals from one hospital: in those meals, the average daily intake was 1338 microg day(-1). Those of ATBC were also higher in meals from another hospital: the average daily intake was 1228 microg day(-1). The sources of DINA and ATBC can be cling-film or sausage packaging.

Plasticizers in duplicate diet samples obtained over 1 week were analysed in order to estimate daily intake. The phthalate esters were as follows: diethyl, dipropyl, dibutyl, dipentyl, dihexyl, butylbenzyl, dicyclohexyl, di(2-ethylhexyl), dioctyl, diisooctyl (mixture of isomers) and diisononyl (mixture). Di(2-ethylhexyl) adipate was also determined. Homogenized samples of composite meals were extracted with acetonitrile, lipids were removed by extraction into n-hexane and the acetonitrile layer was cleaned using Florisil and Bondesil PSA dual layer column. Phthalates were determined by GC/MS (SIM). Phthalate recovery from the fortified food mixture by this method was 62.5-140.8%. Quality assurance as assessed by three laboratories indicated coefficient of variance in the levels of detected phthalates in same lot samples as below 10%. Detection limits were 0.1-23 ng/g for each phthalate. One-week duplicate diet samples provided by three hospitals in three remote prefectures of Japan were analysed as individual meals. In all 63 samples, DEHP was present at the highest level among all phthalates in the range 10-4400 ng/g. The intake of plasticizers estimated from all samples was 519 microg DEHP/day, 86 microg DEHA/day, 65 microg DINP/day, and 4.7 microg BBP/day. Calculated DEHP in 2-day samples out of 21 days exceeded EU TDI for a person of 50 kg body weight (1850 microg per day). Disposable PVC gloves used during the preparation of meals were suspected as the source of the high DEHP content. One-day intake of the other phthalates and DEHA was below 7% of TDI in all cases. High concentrations of DEHP (5990 ng/g) was found in baby food used in quality assurance work. The source of contamination was the PVC-tube used during production and was effectively reduced by replacing the tube by one made of stainless steel.

The plasticizers di-n-butylphthalate (DBP), butylbenzylphthalate (BBP), di-2-(ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) and di-2-(ethylhexyl)adipate (DEHA) were analysed in 29 total diet samples, in 11 samples of baby food and in 11 samples of infant formulae. In all of the total diet samples the presence of one or more of the plasticizers was demonstrated. Maximum and minimum mean concentrations in the total diet samples were: 0.09-0.19 mg DBP/kg, 0.017-0.019 mg BBP/kg, 0.11-0.18 mg DEHP/kg and 0.13-0.14 mg DEHA/kg. One or more of the phthalates was also found in about 50% of the samples of baby food as well as in infant formulae. The calculated mean maximum intakes of the individual compounds from the total diet samples were below 10% of the restrictions proposed by the EU Scientific Committee for Food (SCF), and the spread in individual intakes was considerable. DEHP was the plasticizer determined most frequently and contributed the highest fraction of its tolerable daily intake (TDI). Hence, the maximum calculated intake of DEHP from single samples of the foodstuffs analysed could be up to one-third of the TDI. The calculated mean intake of DEHA was about 1% of the TDI with a maximum value of 13% of the TDI. Violations of the restrictions proposed by the EU Scientific Committee for Food (SCF) in the form of TDI values or specific migration limits were not found in this investigation.

A control campaign on the correct labelling of plasticized PVC film according to current legislation on food contact materials has been performed. Analytical methods based on the isotope dilution technique were developed. For enforcement purposes, the films were exposed to the official food simulant, olive oil, followed by clean-up using size exclusion chromatography and final determination of di-(2-ethylhexyl) adipate (DEHA) by combined capillary gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (GC-MS). In the initial screening, the samples were exposed to the alternative food simulant, isooctane, and DEHA could be determined by GC-MS without further clean-up. A good consistency between results from the two different methods was obtained. During the campaign, 49 samples of PVC films, the majority intended for use in retail shops, were sampled from importers and wholesalers by the Municipal Food Control Units. Initially, all films were screened for the migration into isooctane (exposed 2 h at 40 degrees C) of DEHA and other potentially present low molecular weight plasticizers using full scanning mass spectrometry. Films showing a substantial migration of DEHA were further tested with olive oil according to the declared field of application (exposed for 10 days at 40 degrees C). In 47 of the 49 films the migrate contained a substantial amount of DEHA. In 46 films the migration exceeded the specific migration limit of 3 mg/dm2 after use of the relevant reduction factor given in legislation. However, because of the general uncertainty of the analytical method and because the variation in the thickness of the films was calculated to be 1 mg/dm2, the action limit in this campaign was 4 mg/cm2. A migration higher than this action limit was found in 42 films (89% of the samples) and these films were deemed to be illegal according to their present declared field of application as given by their labelling. In a few cases, some migration of the plasticizer di-n-butyl phthalate was seen.

Samples of PVC cling films were taken at importers, wholesalers and retail shops, and their overall migration to the alternative food simulant iso-octane was measured, after establishment of a correlation between overall migration to olive oil at 40 degrees C in 10 days and to iso-octane in 2 h. Results of the migration testing were compared with the recommended and/or actual use of the PVC film and the labelling discussed in relation to the relevant EEC directives on food contact plastics. The correct labelling of plasticized PVC film intended for use in retail packaging is important to avoid the risk of significant consumer intakes of the plasticizer di-(2-ethylhexyl) adipate (DEHA) after the film has been used in contact with fatty foodstuffs. Sixty percent of the films declared for use in contact with fatty foods showed too high overall migration compared with the current interpretation of legislation at the time of sampling. In most instances DEHA made up about 80% of the total amount of plastic constituents migrating to iso-octane. Taking into consideration a specific migration limit of 3 mg DEHA/dm2, 77% of the films used for fatty foodstuff analysed were not acceptable. The migration of DEHA to non-fatty foods defined as the food simulant water was at or below 0.1 mg/dm2 in all PVC-films.

Following exposure to the food simulant olive oil for 10 days at 5, 20 or 40 degrees C a global migration ranging from 20 to 30 mg/dm2 was detected from a common 'low migration' PVC film plasticized with a mixture of di-(ethylhexyl)adipate (DEHA) and a polymeric plasticizer. In a laboratory experiment samples of cheese of the types most commonly consumed in Denmark were wrapped in this 'low migration' PVC film using a procedure simulating the actual pattern of use in retail shops. After a storage time of 2 h at 5 degrees C the level of DEHA was 45 mg/kg of cheese, which after 10 days increased to 150 mg DEHA per kg of cheese, corresponding to an estimated specific migration of 12 mg DEHA/dm2 of cheese surface. Based on statistics on dietary habits it is concluded that the retail packaging of small portions of cheese even in a 'low migration' PVC cling film may lead to consumer intakes of DEHA close to or above the tolerable daily intake of 0.3 mg/kg body weight as defined by the EEC Scientific Committee for Food. Furthermore, it is stressed that measurements of global migration followed by uncritical use of reduction factors may result in erroneous evaluation of the suitability of DEHA-plasticized cling film for the packaging of fatty foods.

Selected foods (260 samples) packaged in materials with the potential to contribute plasticizers to the food, and available food composites (98 samples) obtained from the Canadian Health Protection Branch Total Diet Program, were analysed for phthalate plasticizers and di-2-ethylhexyl adipate (DEHA). The available contacting packaging was also analysed for plasticizers. The results show DEHA in food-contacting film and as a migrant in store-wrapped meat, poultry, fish, cheese and ready-to-eat foods at levels as high as 310 micrograms/g (cheese). DEHA levels in unheated film-wrapped ready-to-eat foods were increased by heating. The di-2-ethylhexyl, dibutyl, butylbenzyl and diethyl phthalate esters (DEHP, DBP, BBP and DEP, respectively) were also found in both the packaging and the contacted foods. Low levels of DEHP (0.065 micrograms/g, average in beverages and 0.29 micrograms/g, average in foods) associated with the use of DEHP-plasticized cap or lid seals, were found in a variety of glass-packaged foods; DBP, BBP and DEHP were found, as previously described, in butter and margarine as migrants from the aluminium foil-paper laminates; and DEP in pies at 1.8 micrograms/g (average) as a migrant from the pie carton windows. In most cases, plasticizers detected in the food were also found in the associated packaging. When possible, 'core' or non-contacting food portions were analysed to verify the migration phenomena.

The polymeric plasticizers poly(butylene adipate) and poly(propylene adipate), and a low molecular weight oligomer fraction from each, were exposed in vitro to simulated gastric and intestinal hydrolysis in order to study their likely fate after ingestion of foods contaminated by migration from plastics packaging. Analysis for loss of the parent compounds indicated that partial hydrolysis occurred under simulated gastric conditions, with the low molecular weight oligomers being the most susceptible. Analysis for one of the starting materials, adipic acid, revealed however that the hydrolysis did not result in a significant conversion to free monomer under either simulated gastric or intestinal conditions. This is explained on the basis of partial hydrolysis of the plasticizers to smaller oligomer units but with the more resistant ester linkages resisting complete breakdown to monomer.

Migration of polyisobutylene from polyethylene/polyisobutylene film into foods has been studied in domestic applications such as wrapping of foods and reheating in a microwave oven. The results of these migration studies were obtained by direct measurement using newly developed analytical methods utilizing nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and infra-red (IR) spectroscopy as well as predictively from assessment of loss of polyisobutylene from the film. Total levels of polyisobutylene migration into cheese were found to be 8-10 mg/kg, into cake 1-5 mg/kg, and into sandwiches ranged from < 1 to 4 mg/kg. Reheating foods covered with film in the microwave oven, gave migration levels ranging from < 0.01 mg/kg for contact with steam only, up to 0.5 mg/kg for severe splashing of food onto the film and 4 mg/kg for reheated pizza. Migration of polyisobutylene was shown to be skewed towards the low molecular weight fraction of the additive. In typical films, the molecular weight range of polyisobutylene was shown to be 300-6000 daltons (95% limits) centred on 1300 daltons, whereas the additive that had migrated into cheese was found to range from 130-2200 daltons, centred on 520 daltons.

The diffusion coefficient of the plasticizer di-(2-ethylhexyl)adipate (DEHA) in Cheddar cheese (Df) was determined by measuring the extent to which DEHA penetrated cheese that was placed in intimate contact with artificially DEHA-contaminated cheese. Slices (20 microns) of cheese from the boundary layer, into which DEHA had migrated, were microtomed at -40 degrees C, and analyzed for DEHA by gas chromatography (GC). Mean values of Df determined by graph fitting experimental and calculated data were 1.5 x 10(-9) cm2 s-1 at 5 degrees C and 3.0 x 10(-8) cm2 s-1 at 25 degrees C. The partition coefficient (K) of DEHA between cheese and PVC film was derived from the partition coefficients of DEHA between acetonitrile (ACN) and cheese lipid, ACN and cheese solid, and ACN and PVC film. The mean values of K between cheese and PVC film were estimated to be 0.70 at 5 degrees C and 0.58 at 25 degrees C. The estimated values of Df and K were then used in a mathematical model (Till et al. 1982) to predict migration levels of DEHA into cheese. Good agreement with previously published experimental data was obtained. Extrapolation of the prediction of DEHA migration into fatty foods, such as salami and avocado, was also successful (ratio of experimental to predicted results within a factor of two). The values of Df and K for cheese are, however, inappropriate for modelling non-fatty foods such as meat, cakes, fruit and vegetables. Predicted values for these foods were typically 3-10-fold too high. More accurate predictions would probably be obtained if values of Df more relevant to these foods are used. The predictions were relatively insensitive to the value of K.

Migration of di-(2-ethylhexyl)adipate (DEHA) into a diverse range of foods arising from the domestic use of plasticized PVC films has been determined using a stable isotope dilution GC/MS procedure. Aspects of home use reported in this study include the wrapping and covering of foods such as cheese, cooked meats, sandwiches, cakes, fresh fruit and vegetables; the use of films during food preparation such as marinading; covering during microwave reheating of previously prepared foods, and covering during microwave cooking. Contact between film and foods was for differing temperatures and times, representative of the range of conditions likely to be experienced in practice in the home. Migration increased with both the length of contact time and temperature of exposure, with the highest levels observed where there was a direct contact between the film and food, and where the latter had a high fat content on the contact surface. Highest levels of migration were observed for cheese, cooked meats, cakes and for microwave-cooked foods, whilst lower levels were observed for wrapping of unfilled sandwiches, fruit and vegetables (except avocado), and for food preparation including microwave reheating where there was covering of the food in a container but little or no direct contact.

A UK survey of di-(2-ethylhexyl)adipate (DEHA) levels in retail foods (83 samples) wrapped in plasticized PVC film has been carried out, examining a wide range of different food types obtained from retail and take-away outlets. Foodstuffs analysed included fresh meat and poultry, ready-cooked poultry, cheese, fruit, vegetables and baked goods such as cakes, bread rolls and sandwiches. Analysis by stable isotope dilution GC/MS showed DEHA levels ranging from 1.0 to 72.8 mg/kg in uncooked meat and poultry, 9.4 to 48.6 mg/kg in cooked chicken portions, 27.8 to 135.0 mg/kg in cheese, less than 2.0 mg/kg in fruit and vegetables and 11 to 212 mg/kg in baked goods and sandwiches. The level of DEHA migration correlated with the extent of contact between the film and exposed fatty portions of the food, whether that was the mayonnaise filling of a sandwich or the surface fat from a joint of uncooked meat. The level of DEHA in meat exposed to plasticized film was not reduced significantly by volatilization or chemical transformation on subsequent cooking by grilling or frying.