Abstract
Migration of styrene monomer from expanded polystyrene (EPS) at various time intervals (3 hr, 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 12, 18 days at 51OC) into nine different stimulants (water, 8% ethanol in water, 3% acetic acid, and 3 and 10% of food-grade citric, malic and tartaric acid) was determined using a modified FDA migration cell. Exposure to 8% ethanol resulted in the greatest average migration of styrene (147.6 µg/L) during 18 days of storage compared to all other stimulants tested. The concentration for styrene in 8% ethanol ranged from 49.3 to 228.5 µg/L over all exposure times. For all stimulants tested, styrene concentrations were greater than or equal to 22 µg/L after 3 hours of exposure. EPS exposed to malic (3 and 10%) and 10% tartaric acids had greater styrene migration than styrene exposed to all other acidic stimulants tested.
Highlights
1.1 Polystyrene Used in Food ContactPolymeric materials play a major role in food processing, preservation, marketing, and in the microwave cooking applications
Since the surface area was identical for all of our samples and the comparison between types of simulants was our objective in the current study, the results are expressed both as μg/L in the food simulant and based on the surface of styrene to simulant volume ratio (S/V)
Expanded polystyrene styrene exposed to malic acid (3 and 10 %) and 10% tartaric acid resulted in higher styrene migration compared to water and all other acid types and concentrations tested
Summary
1.1 Polystyrene Used in Food ContactPolymeric materials (plastic) play a major role in food processing, preservation, marketing, and in the microwave cooking applications. While plastic packaging is popular, the use of plastic materials is not without risk to human health and/or loss of quality to the packaged food. Food products may encounter a loss in quality due to product-package interaction (migration, scalping and reaction). This concern centers on the migration of low molecular weight compounds in the package such as residual monomers and additives into the food. Whereas styrene monomer migration into food products changes sensory quality (Durst & Laperle, 1990), it has possible toxicologic and carcinogenic health effects (Loprieno et al, 1976, Arvanitoyannis & Bosnea, 2004).
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