Determination of perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) in various foodstuff packaging materials used in the Greek market

Abstract

Perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) are used in food packaging materials as coatings/additives for oil and moisture resistance. In the current study, foodstuff-packaging materials collected from the Greek market, made of paper, paperboard or aluminum foil were analyzed for the determination of PFCs. For the analysis of the samples, pressurized liquid extraction (PLE), liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) and isotope dilution method were applied to develop a specific and sensitive method of analysis for the quantification of 12 PFCs: perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA), perfluoropentanoic acid (PFPeA), perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA), perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA), perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUnDA), perfluorododecanoic acid (PFDoA), perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS), perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and the qualitative detection of 5 more: perfluorotridecanoic acid (PFTrDA), perfluorotetradecanoic acid (PFTeDA), perflyohexadecanoic acid (PFHxDA), perfluorooctadecanoic acid (PFODA) and perfluorodecane sulfonate (PFDS). No PFCs were quantified in aluminum foil wrappers, baking paper materials or beverage cups. PFTrDA, PFTeDA and PFHxDA were detected in fast food boxes. In the ice cream cup sample only PFHxA was found. On the other hand, several PFCs were quantified and detected in fast food wrappers, while the highest levels of PFCs were found in the microwave popcorn bag. PFOA and PFOS were not detected in any of the samples. Compared to other studies from different countries, very low concentrations of PFCs were detected in the packaging materials analyzed. Our results suggest that probably no serious danger for consumers’ health can be associated with PFCs contamination of packaging materials used in Greece.