Compositional analysis of commercial PVC bottles and studies of aspects of specific and overall migration into foods and stimulants.

Abstract

Plastics additives and processing aids present severe difficulties for the legislator attempting to establish meaningful controls. In many cases information both on the substances added to the plastic and on the species migrating into food, which may well be different, are lacking. In the studies reported, information has been sought on the actual components employed in two typical commercial plastics. Analysis has been carried out of both the composition and trace constituents of the ingredients of commercial PVC formulations used for manufacturing bottles for orange squash and cooking oil applications. Assessment of maximum leachable material was made by solvent extraction of the individual additives, which was compared with overall migration from the PVC bottles into food stimulants using proposed EEC Statutory Methods. Additionally, specific migration measurements of epoxidized soyabean oil, tris(nonylphenyl) phosphite, nonylphenol, pentaerythritol, and BHT antioxidant were carried out in food stimulants and where possible also in foods.