Abstract
Phthalates are multifunctional synthetic chemicals found in a wide array of consumer and industrial products, mainly used to improve the mechanical properties of plastics, giving them flexibility and softness. In the European Union, phthalates are prohibited at levels greater than 0.1% by weight in most food packaging. In the current study, headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) combined with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was optimized, through the multivariate optimization process, and validated to evaluate the occurrence of four common phthalates, di-iso-butyl phthalate (DIBP), butyl-benzyl phthalate (BBP), di-n-octyl phthalate (DOP), and 2,2,4,4-tetrabromodiphenyl (BDE), in different food packaging. The best extraction efficiency was achieved using the polydimethylsiloxane/divinylbenzene (PDMS/DVB) fiber at 80 °C for 30 min. The validated method showed good linearity, precision (RSD < 13%), and recoveries (90.2 to 111%). The limit of detection (LOD) and of quantification (LOQ) ranged from 0.03 to 0.08 µg/L and from 0.10 to 0.24 µg/L, respectively. On average, the phthalates concentration varied largely among the assayed food packaging. DIBP was the most predominant phthalate in terms of occurrence (71.4% of analyzed simples) and concentration (from 3.61 to 10.7 μg/L). BBP was quantified in only one sample and BDE was detected in trace amounts (<LOQ) in only two samples.
Highlights
IntroductionPublisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations
di-iso-butyl phthalate (DIBP) was the most prominent phthalate found in all samples, with a frequency of occurrence (FO) of 100%, and its concentration ranged from 3.61 to 10.6 μg/L
The detection of phthalates in plastics used in food packaging is of utmost importance in order to ensure the high quality and safety of packed food and food-derived products
Summary
Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. Phthalates are a chemical group of industrial compounds with a common chemical structure, dialkyl or alkyl/aryl esters of 1,2-benzenedicarboxylic acid, commonly used for a variety of purposes, including industrial plastics, personal care products, and pharmaceuticals. Humans are exposed to phthalates through different ways such as dermal contact, inhalation, and ingestion. Due to the abundance of plastic in our society, the exposure to phthalates is ubiquitous, constituting a major problem both at the environmental and health levels. In Europe, eight million tons of plastics was used for food and drink packaging, being one area in which plastics make a major contribution
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