New methodology for the determination of phthalate esters, bisphenol A, bisphenol A diglycidyl ether, and nonylphenol in commercial whole milk samples

Bisphenol A (BPA) toxicity assessment and insights into current remediation strategies

Bisphenol A (BPA) raises concerns among the scientific community as it is one of the most widely used compounds in industrial processes and a component of polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins. In this review, we discuss the mechanism of BPA toxicity in food-grade plastics. Owing to its proliferation in the aqueous environment, we delved into the performance of various biological, physical, and chemical techniques for its remediation. Detailed mechanistic insights into these removal processes are provided. The toxic effects of BPA unravel as changes at the cellular level in the brain, which can result in learning difficulties, increased aggressiveness, hyperactivity, endocrine disorders, reduced fertility, and increased risk of dependence on illicit substances. Bacterial decomposition of BPA leads to new intermediates and products with lower toxicity. Processes such as membrane filtration, adsorption, coagulation, ozonation, and photocatalysis have also been shown to be efficient in aqueous-phase degradation. The breakdown mechanism of these processes is also discussed. The review demonstrates that high removal efficiency is usually achieved at the expense of high throughput. For the scalable application of BPA degradation technologies, removal efficiency needs to remain high at high throughput. We propose the need for process intensification using an integrated combination of these processes, which can solve multiple associated performance challenges.

Assessing dietary bisphenol A exposure among Koreans: comprehensive database construction and analysis using the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

Bisphenol A (BPA) exposure primarily occurs through dietary intake. This study aimed to estimate the extent of dietary BPA exposure among Koreans. A thorough literature search was conducted to establish a BPA content database encompassing common foods consumed in Korea, including various food raw materials and processed food products. Dietary exposure levels were estimated by integrating the constructed BPA database with comprehensive nationwide 24 h-dietary recall datasets. The finding revealed that dietary BPA exposure was low for most Koreans, with a mean of 14.5 ng/kg bw/day, but was higher for preschool-age children (over 23 ng). Canned foods accounted for 9-36% of the total dietary exposure of the highest dietary exposure groups; while across all age groups, a considerable amount was derived from canned tuna, contribution of canned fruits and canned coffee (milk-containing) was high for preschool-age children and adults, respectively. Notably, for adults, a substantial proportion also stemmed from beer packaged in cans. While diet contributed over 80% of aggregate exposure for most age groups, preschool-age children experienced 60% exposure through diet due to additional exposure from indoor dust. Even at the high exposure scenario, aggregate BPA exposure levels remained lower than the current tolerable daily intake (TDI) set by the Korean agency (20 μg/kg bw/day). Nevertheless, most Koreans were exposed to BPA levels surpassing the strictest TDI (0.2 ng/kg bw/day) set by the European Food Safety Authority.

A review of endocrine disrupting chemicals migration from food contact materials into beverages

A significant and pressing issue revolves around the potential human exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), which pose a substantial risk primarily through contaminated beverages. However, a comprehensive review for comparison of the migration rates of EDCs into these matrixes is currently lacking. This study reviews the beverages contamination with EDCs, including phthalates (PAEs), bisphenol A (BPA), hormone-like compounds, elements, and other organic EDCs. Also, the EDCs migration into milk and other dairy products, coffee, tea, and cold beverages related to their release from contact materials, preparation components, and storage conditions are briefly summarized. The data illustrates that besides the contamination of raw materials, the presence of EDCs associated with the type of food contact materials (FCMs)and their migration rate is increased with acidity, temperature, and storage time. The highest concentration of PAEs was detected from plastic and synthetic polymer films, while BPA strongly leaches from epoxy resins and canned metal. Furthermore, the presence of elements with endocrine disrupting characteristics was confirmed in cold beverages, soft drinks, hot drink and milk. Moreover, hormone-like compounds have been found to be released from coffee preparation components. Despite the few data about the migration rate of other EDCs including UV-stabilizers, surfactants, and antibacterial compounds into beverages, their presence was reported into milk, coffee, and different beverages, especially in packed samples. Studies on the EDCs leaching have primarily focused on PAEs and BPA, while other compounds require further investigation. Regardless, the possible risk that EDCs pose to humans through beverage consumption cannot be overlooked.

Bisphenol A in dairy products, amount, potential risks, and the various analytical methods, a systematic review

This systematic study deals with the amount of bisphenol A (BPA) in milk and dairy products, its analytical methods, and risk assessment. Milk is one of the drinks that has a high consumption. Bisphenol A can be present both in raw milk and its amount undergoes changes during the pasteurization process. This review was conducted by searching for the keywords Bisphenol A, BPA milk, dairy product, cheese, cream, butter, yogurt, measurement, detection, and analysis in different databases. The search was done in three databases, Scopus, PubMed and Science Direct. The largest number of studies on the determination of bisphenol A belonged to Asian and European countries. The amount of bisphenol A in milks was observed in the range from ND to 640 ng/mL. Furthermore, the amount of BPA in the tested cheese samples was observed in the ND range up to 6.1 ng/g and in the yogurt samples in the ND range up to 4.4 ng/g. The most used analytical method was based on liquid chromatography. The most used solvent for extraction was methanol or acetonitrile. HQ (Hazard Quotient) was also calculated in some studies. There was no risk in terms of milk consumption due to BPA contamination in extracted data.

Electrospun mesh pattern of polyvinyl alcohol/zirconium-based metal-organic framework nanocomposite as a sorbent for extraction of phthalate esters

Herein, an electrospun composite polyvinyl alcohol/zirconium-based metal-organic frameworks (PVA@UiO-66) nanofiber coating was prepared on the surface of stainless steel mesh (SSM) and then utilized as novel sorbent for the extraction of phthalate esters (PEs) in milk and water samples. Gas chromatography equipped with a flame ionization detector (GC-FID) was used for the quantitative determination of extracted analytes. The SSM coated with PVA@UiO-66 was used in a polypropylene syringe to fabricate the solid-phase extraction (SPE) device. The PVA@UiO-66 nanofiber coating was confirmed using X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis (FT-IR), and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). The effective parameters of the extraction efficiency including volume and type of desorption solvent, sample volume, ionic strength, pH, extraction flow rate, and desorption flow rate were optimized. At the optimal extraction conditions, the calibration plots for phthalate esters were linear within the range of 0.05-100 ng mL-1 and, low detection limits (0.015-0.06 ng mL-1). Finally, this semi-automated SPE was used for the extraction and detection of phthalate esters (PEs) in milk and various environmental real water samples. The results showed good precision with acceptable and satisfactory extraction recovery values ranging from 89.5 to 99.2% and relative standard deviations (RSDs%) ranging from 4.5 to 6.9%.

Ten bisphenol analogues in Chinese fresh dairy milk: high contribution ratios of conjugated form, importance of enzyme hydrolysis and risk evaluation

This study investigated concentration levels of ten bisphenols (BPs) in 13 Chinese commercial fresh low temperature dairy milk samples (fresh milk) of main local and national brands with or without enzyme hydrolysis. The results showed that at least two BPs were detected in each fresh milk sample without enzyme hydrolysis and the respective mean concentrations of bisphenol AF (BPAF), bisphenol B (BPB), bisphenol C (BPC), bisphenol F (BPF), bisphenol A (BPA), bisphenol S (BPS), bisphenol AP (BPAP), bisphenol PP (BPP), bisphenol Z (BPZ), and bisphenol E (BPE) were 0.73, 0.61, 1.86, 0.87, 0.42, 0.11, 1.06, 1.42, 1.5, and 0.04 ng/mL, while their respective detection frequencies ranged from 23.1-92.3%. These results indicated the frequent detection of BPs in fresh milk samples. With enzyme hydrolysis, the respective mean concentrations of BPAF, BPA, BPB, BPC, BPF, BPS, and BPAP were increased 7.1-107.1%, indicating the long-ignored importance of enzyme hydrolysis. The respective average estimated daily intakes (EDIs) of BPA by adult and children in China via fresh milk were 32.5 and 37.5 ng/kg bw/d, indicating that BPA in fresh milk was a crucial source to human. Six out of nine other BPs had higher average EDIs than that of BPA, among which the EDI of BPAP was almost three times that of BPA, suggesting the widespread contamination of other BPs in Chinese fresh milk.

An indirect method for the analysis of bisphenol A, as a Mn(III)-chelate complex, in milk samples by ultrasound assisted-cloud point extraction/flame atomic absorption spectrometry

A method for indirect determination of bisphenol A (BPA), as a Mn(III)-chelate complex, in milk samples by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) was developed. The method was based on cloud point extraction with ultrasound assistance (UA-CPE). In the pre-concentration step by UA-CPE, the ternary complex selectively formed between BPA and Mn(III)-oxalate at pH 5.0 was extracted into the mixed micellar phase of ionic and nonionic surfactants, cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTABr) and polyethylene glycol tert-octylphenyl ether (Triton X-114) as a sensitivity enhancer and extractant. After phase separation by centrifugation, the separated extract was diluted with acidic methanol and analyzed by FAAS. The reproducibility of the signal in the detection step especially at low concentrations was greatly improved by the use of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) as a stabilizer. Using indirect Mn-responses by FAAS, the main variables affecting the extraction efficiency were evaluated and optimized. Under optimized conditions, the calibration graph was highly linear in the range of 0.8-130 μg L^-1 with limits of detection and quantification of 0.23 and 0.76 μg L^-1, intra- and inter-day precisions in the range of 2.8-5.2% and 3.8-7.2%, and recovery in the range of 94.2-98.5% (10, 25, 100 μg L^-1, n: 5 and 3 × 5). From pre-concentration of a 35 mL sample by UA-CPE, the pre-concentration factor was found to be 70 with a 41-fold sensitivity improvement. The matrix effect was greatly reduced by deproteinization with trichloroacetic acid (TCA) and 20-fold dilution of milk samples before analysis. The method accuracy was checked by analysis of trace BPA in milk samples via a calibration curve in solvent and a matrix-matched calibration curve prepared from sample extracts. The results were in the range of 2.1-7.3 μg L^-1 and 2.0-7.0 μg L^-1 without any matrix effect. According to the Student's t-test, there is not a statistically significant difference between the results found by using the two calibration curves. Finally, it can be concluded that the method is suitable for detecting BPA in milk based products at concentrations far below the specific migration limit (SML) of 600 μg L^-1.

The effects of packaging type and storage temperature on some of UHT milk quality indexes

The objective of the present study was to illustrate the changes in physicochemical properties in ultra-high temperature (UHT) milk packed into a pouch and Tetra Brik during storage. UHT milk samples were kept at 5 and 25 °C for 3 months and regularly analyzed monthly. During storage, significant increases (p < 0.05) in titratable acidity (TA), water-soluble nitrogen (WSN), and non-protein nitrogen (NPN) when UHT milk was packed into pouch versus Tetra Brik and stored at 25 versus 5 °C. Neither type of packaging nor storage temperature affect pH values during storage. Spore-forming bacterial (SFB) count was always higher in UHT milk packed into pouch versus Tetra Brik. Refrigerated storage kept UHT milk without detectable SFB compared to UHT milk held at 25 °C. Pouch packages were responsible for the migration of phthalate derivatives [dimethyl phthalate "DMP", diethyl phthalate "DEP", dibutyl phthalate "DBP", and di-(2-Ethylhexyl) phthalate "DEHP"] into milk with significantly greater levels than milk filled into Tetra Brik. The total sensory scores were decreased significantly during storage, which was more pronounced in UHT milk filled into pouch versus Tetra Brik or stored at 25 °C versus 5 °C. It is concluded that UHT milk filled into Tetra Brik stored at 5 and 25 °C is better in terms of quality and safety indexes than such filled into a pouch.

In Vivo Study of The Oestrogenic Activity of Milk

Introduction

Milk has been suggested to be a possible source of oestrogenically active compounds. In order to assess the health risk for milk consumers and ensure the safety of this staple part of the human diet, it is important to study the effect of xenooestrogen mixtures present in milk. This investigation used the available in vivo model to learn to what extent such compounds may be endocrine disruptors.

Material and Methods

The recommended immature golden hamster uterotrophic bioassay was chosen. A total of 132 animals were divided into nine groups of experimental animals and positive and negative control groups, each of 12 animals. The experimental females received ad libitum either one of five samples of raw cow’s milk from individual animals or one of four samples of pasteurised or ultra-high temperature treated cow’s milk as retail products. After 7 days, the animals were sacrificed and necropsied. Uterine weight increases were measured as the endpoint of oestrogenic activity in milk.

Results

The milk samples from individual cows and the retail milk samples did not show oestrogenic activity. However, in three groups, decreased uterine weights were observed.

Conclusion

Considering that milk supplies are beneficial to health, contamination in this food should be avoided. There is a need for further animal experiments and epidemiological studies are warranted to evaluate any causative role of milk in human endocrinological disorders.

Development of a high-performance liquid chromatography method to assess bisphenol F levels in milk

Bisphenol F (BPF) is a bisphenol A (BPA) analogue. As an endocrine disruptor, BPF shows a similar BPA hormonal activity and greater endocrine effects. To assess BPF levels in milk a selective method based on solvent extraction with acetonitrile, solid-phase extraction (SPE), high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection (HPLC-FD) system, was developed. The method showed high recovery values (from 97.60 to 107.16%), and good detection and quantification limits (LOD=0.03 μg/L; LOQ=0.1 μg/L). To validate the analytical method, quantitative analyses of n.20 milk samples of whole milk were preliminarily carried out applying a monitoring system based on the control of different stages of pasteurized whole milk processing at a dairy company. The proposed method is simple, sensitive, and might be suitable to detect BPF residues in milk processing. At the dairy company, the occurrence of BPF levels ranging from Collapse

Key Words

• Bisphenol F
• High-performance liquid chromatography method
• Milk

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MESH Headings Collapse

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Affiliation(s)

Serena Santonicola Department of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Molise, Campobasso
Maria Carmela Ferrante Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, University of Naples, Italy
Giampaolo Colavita Department of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Molise, Campobasso
Raffaelina Mercogliano Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, University of Naples, Italy

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A comparative study based on activity, conformation and computational analysis on the inhibition of human salivary aldehyde dehydrogenase by phthalate plasticizers: Implications in assessing the safety of packaged food items

Phthalate plasticizers are commonly used in various consumer-end products. Human salivary aldehyde dehydrogenase (hsALDH) is a detoxifying enzyme which defends us from the toxic aldehydes. Here, the effect of phthalates [Di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), Diethyl phthalate (DEP) and Dibutyl phthalate (DBP)] on hsALDH has been investigated. These plasticizers inhibited hsALDH, and the IC₅₀ values were 0.48 ± 0.04, 283.20 ± 0.09 and 285.00 ± 0.14 μM for DEHP, DEP and DBP, respectively. DEHP was the most potent inhibitor among the three plasticizers. They exhibited mixed-type linear inhibition with inclination towards competitive-non-competitive inhibition. They induced both tertiary and secondary structural changes in the enzyme. Quenching of intrinsic hsALDH fluorescence in a constant manner was observed with a binding constant (K_b) of 8.91 × 10⁶, 2.80 × 10⁴, and 1.31 × 10⁵ M^-1, for DEHP, DEP and DBP, respectively. Computational analysis showed that these plasticizers bind stably in the proximity of hsALDH catalytic site, reciprocating via non-covalent interactions with some of the amino acids which are evolutionary conserved. Therefore, exposure to these plasticizers inhibits hsALDH which increases the risk of aldehyde induced toxicity, adversely affecting oral health. The study has implications in assessing the safety of packaged food items which utilize phthalates.

Characterization and Quantitation of Personal Exposures to Epoxy Paints in Construction Using a Combination of Novel Personal Samplers and Analytical Techniques: CIP-10MI, Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry and Ion Chromatography

Epoxy resins are extremely versatile products that are widely used in construction for coatings, adhesives, primers, and sealers. Occupational exposures to epoxies cause allergic contact dermatitis, occupational asthma, hypersensitivity pneumonitis (epoxy-resin lung) and acute decline in lung function. Despite these health concerns, there is a striking paucity of quantitative exposure data to epoxy resins in construction. The lack of practical analytical methods and suitable personal samplers for monitoring of reactive two-component epoxide systems in real-world applications has been an unmet challenge for decades. Sampling and analysis methods for epoxies should be able to collect the paint aerosols efficiently, stop polymerization reactions at the time of sample collection, and subsequently provide detailed multispecies characterization of epoxides, as well as the total epoxide group (TEG) content of a sample, to properly document the chemical composition of exposures to epoxide paints. In this work, we present the development and application of two new complementary quantitative analytical methods-liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry with online ultraviolet detection and ion chromatography (IC)-for multispecies characterization of raw products, as well as inhalation and skin exposures to epoxy formulations in real-world construction applications. A novel personal sampler, CIP-10MI, was used for personal sampling of airborne epoxies. We report for the first time the results of personal inhalation and potential skin exposures to individual monomers and oligomers of bisphenol A diglycidyl ether (BADGE), as well as TEG, during metal structure coatings in construction; compare analytical results of the two analytical methods; and provide recommendations for method selection in future field studies. High inhalation and potential skin exposures to epoxies point to the need for interventions to reduce exposures among painters in construction.

The development of isomer-specific analysis of branched 4-nonylphenol in food for dietary exposure - a critical review of analytical methods and occurrence in foodstuffs

4-Nonylphenol (4-NP) is a para-substituted phenolic compound comprising a straight or branched carbon chain group while branched 4-NP consists of 211 possible structural isomers. NP is recognised as an environmental pollutant and exists ubiquitously in both the environment and in food. 4-NP, especially branched 4-NP, has been shown to have the potential role of endocrine disruptor and xeno-oestrogen. Moreover, different NP isomers also exhibit different oestrogen-like activities. Recently, it was reported that the isomer-specific profile of 4-NP in foodstuffs varies greatly between and within food groups. Hence, risk assessment based on total branched 4-NP cannot reflect dietary risk. This study reviews the analytical methods applicable to conduct an isomer-specific analysis of 4-NP and its occurrence in foodstuffs. Lastly, research gaps are identified for future research.

Occurrence of bisphenol A in the milk chain: A monitoring model for risk assessment at a dairy company

Bisphenol A (BPA) as a chemical hazard may enter the milk chain during primary production at the farm and, successively, during milk processing at a dairy company. To identify the potential pathways that play a role in the occurrence of BPA, a monitoring model for risk assessment based on the identification of the hazards at each stage of milk processing was investigated. Milk samples were analyzed using liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection. Quantifiable levels were detected in samples obtained from the raw milk storage tank, pasteurized milk from the storage tank, and packaged milk. The highest BPA contamination levels were detected in raw milk from the storage tank (mean 0.265 µg/L). Despite the fact that dietary exposure levels were below the temporary daily intake, BPA may have adverse effects, particularly for vulnerable population groups. New monitoring programs involving each stage of milk processing should therefore be applied.

Presence of Parabens and Bisphenols in Food Commonly Consumed in Spain

Given the widespread use of bisphenols and parabens in consumer products, the assessment of their intake is crucial and represents the first step towards the assessment of the potential risks that these compounds may pose to human health. In the present study, a total of 98 samples of food items commonly consumed by the Spanish population were collected from different national supermarkets and grocery stores for the determination of parabens and bisphenols. Our analysis demonstrated that 56 of the 98 food samples contained detectable levels of parabens with limits of quantification (LOQ) between 0.4 and 0.9 ng g-1. The total concentration of parabens (sum of four parabens: ∑parabens) ranged from below the LOQ to 281.7 ng g-1, with a mean value of 73.86 ng g-1. A total of 52% of the samples showed detectable concentrations of bisphenols. Bisphenol A (BPA) was the most frequently detected bisphenol in the food samples analysed, followed by bisphenol S (BPS) and bisphenol E (BPE). Bisphenol AF (BPAF), bisphenol B (BPB) and bisphenol P (BPP) were not found in any of the analysed samples. LOQ for these bisphenols were between 0.4 and 4.0 ng g-1.

Preparation of sheet-like covalent organic frameworks and their application for efficient preconcentration of 4-(tert-octyl)-phenol and 4-nonylphenol in textiles

In the design of highly ordered (covalent organic frameworks) COFs with "ordered domains size and orientation" construction in a well-defined arrangement, the molecular monomers are the key factors. Here, the effect of molecular monomers on the construction of COFs has been studied, and two kinds of molecular monomers, i.e., ethanediamine (flexible amine ligand) and 4,4'-diaminobiphenyl (rigid amine ligand) have been used for developing sheet-like COFs-I and sheet-like COFs-II, respectively. Furthermore, they have been evaluated in the dispersive solid phase extraction (dSPE) procedure for textiles prior to the analysis of alkylphenol by liquid chromatography-tandem quadrupole mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The results showed that, the optimal usage amount of sheet-like COFs-II used in the dSPE procedure was less than that of sheet-like COFs-I, which may be explained by much higher adsorption capacity of sheet-like COFs via hydrogen-bonding and π-π stacking interactions. Rectilinear calibration graphs were obtained for 4-(tert-octyl)-phenol (4-tOP) and 4-nonylphenol (4-NP) in the range 0.2-20 µg/kg with determination coefficient (r²) higher than 0.9990, and the limits of detection (LODs) of 4-tOP and 4-NP were 0.039 µg/kg and 0.048 µg/kg, respectively. The developed method has been successfully applied to analysis of 50 textile samples, in which 4-tOP and 4-NP were found in six samples with concentrations in the range of 1.6 μg/kg-20.9 μg/kg.

Phthalates in the diet of Mexican children of school age. Risk analysis

Phthalates are widely used as plasticizers, additives, or solvents. Its extensive use has generated environmental and food contamination, which implies continuous population exposure. The aim of this work was to determine the probability of health risk of Mexican children exposed to phthalates through the consumption of contaminated food. A survey was applied to 384 Mexican school-age children (between 6 and 12 years old), to find out the type of food they eat most frequently, based on this, a research was made to know the concentration of phthalates contained in these foods. The daily intake had been calculated with the concentration of phthalates reported in food, obtaining: DEHP (19.50 μg/kg body weight/day), DnBP (5.52 μg/kg body weight/day) y for DEP (1.12 μg/kg body weight/day). The hazard index (HI) for DEP y DEHP was 0.49 to 42.5 for internal organs damage reported. HI for reproductive health damage due to exposure to DnBT and DEHP was of 0.04 to 5.58, so that there is a high probability that children's health is at risk. Therefore, it is necessary to a quantitative analysis of phthalates in food consumed in Latin American countries and establish the TDI of phthalates especially, to DEHP, which was obtained the higher HI.

Plasticisers and preservatives in commercial milk products: A comprehensive study on packages used in the Spanish market

A comprehensive study on packaging used in commercially available milk products from Spanish markets has been presented. Concentrations of four phthalates, seven parabens and BPA were determined in forty-two milk products. Eleven brands and five types of packaging (metallic aluminium bag, carton, high-density polyethylene, metal pail and polyethylene terephthalate) were included in the study. BPA showed the lowest concentrations (8.3 pg/g f.w.), far below those of phthalates (6431 pg/g f.w.) and parabens (6234 pg/g f.w.). Metallic aluminium bags were the least migrating packaging (considering plasticisers and monomers) followed by HDPE bottles, in the case of phthalates. Parabens showed their highest concentrations for fresh-milk samples. Levels found were far below the specific migration limits established by the EU and the cumulative hazard index was lower than 1, indicating that adverse health effects were not expected. In general, the results found in Spanish samples were lower than those reported in other countries.

Identification of Potential Extractablesand Leachables in Cosmetic Plastic Packagingby Microchambers-Thermal Extraction and Pyrolysis-Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry

Most container-content interaction studies are carried out through migration tests on end products or simulants involving generally toxic solvents. This study was conducted with the aim of identifying potential leachables from materials used in cosmetic plastic packaging by using two approaches based on solvent-free extraction, i.e., solid-phase microextraction sampling and pyrolyzer/thermal desorption coupled with gas chromatography mass spectrometry. Volatile and semi-volatile intentionally and non-intentionally added substances were detected in seven packaging samples made of polypropylene, polyethylene, and styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer. Thirty-five compounds related to the polymers industry or packaging industry were identified, among them phthalates, alkanes, styrene, and cyanide derivates including degradation products, impurities, additives, plasticizers, and monomers. All except eight belong to the Cramer class I. These thermodesorption techniques are complementary to those used for migration tests.

Determination of Nine Bisphenol-Diglycidyl Ethers in Human Breast Milk by Ultrahigh-Performance Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Because of their widespread use, and the mutagenicity and teratogenicity observed in in vitro studies, bisphenol-diglycidyl ethers (BDGEs) were suspected of posing health risks to humans, especially to infants. Quantifying exposure of BDGEs from breast milk is essential in assessing the potential health risks of these ubiquitous compounds to infants. However, there is no reported analytical method for the determination of BDGEs in breast milk. In this context, we developed a rapid and sensitive method based on ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) to measure nine BDGEs in breast milk. The analytes were extracted with acetonitrile and fat was removed by freezing under -20 °C. The extracts were further purified by PRiME HLB solid-phase extraction (SPE) cartridge. The limits of detection (LODs) and quantification (LOQs) for the analytes were 0.033-0.500 and 0.100-1.500 μg L^-1, respectively. The recoveries of BDGEs were ranged from 71.33% to 114.33%. Good method reproducibility regarding intra- and interday precision was observed, yielding relative standard deviations (RSDs) less than 11.81% and 10.83%, respectively. The proposed method was successfully applied to 20 breast milk samples. BADGE·2H₂O, BADGE·HCl·H₂O, BADGE·H₂O, BADGE·HCl, BFDGE·2H₂O, and BFDGE·2HCl were detected. BFDGE·2HCl was the dominant BDGE with detection rate of 65.0% and the concentration ranging from 0.4 to 1.0 μg L^-1. This is the first report describing the occurrence of BDGEs in breast milk.

Effect of sunlight exposure on phthalates migration from plastic containers to packaged juices

BACKGROUND

Acidic juices such as lemon juice, vinegar and Verjuice are popular beverages regularly consumed by both children and adults. Various brands of different acidic juices in Iran markets are packaged in disposable plastic bottles. Some evidence suggests that phthalates may immigrate from plastic bottles.

METHODS

In this research the influence of sunlight, type of container and storage time on the leaching of phthalates from packaging materials into selected juices was investigated, by analyzing the samples kept in different conditions, before and throughout 2, 4 and 6 months storage time.

RESULTS

The mean phthalate concentrations of the examined samples were determined to be between <LOD and 0.521 μg/L in verjuice, <LOD and 0.261 μg/L in lemon juice, <LOD and 0.599 μg/L in vinegar. DEP and DEHP showed the highest level of migration into acidic juices packed in plastic bottles.

CONCLUSIONS

Results of analyses before and after storage show that some storage conditions can increase the concentrations of DBP, DEHP and DEP in acidic juices. The results of this study indicate the possible leaching of phthalates from packages made of plastic materials into the contents.

Development of an immunoaffinity column for the highly sensitive analysis of bisphenol A in 14 kinds of foodstuffs using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry

An immunoaffinity clean-up material based on a monoclonal antibody (mAb) has been prepared for concentrating and purifying bisphenol A (BPA) in 14 kinds of foodstuffs at trace level. Haptens and immunogen of bisphenol A have been synthesized and comprehensively characterized. An mAb towards BPA was prepared and cross-reactivities with 14 BPA analogues were below 5%. The prepared antibody was coupled to N-hydroxysuccinimide-activated Sepharose 4B to manufacture an immunoaffinity column (IAC), which was applied to purify BPA in 14 kinds of foodstuffs. The analyte was then detected by means of ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS). Under the optimized conditions, compared with two traditional SPE clean-up methods, the IAC showed better selectivity (matrix effect <16.8%) and higher sensitivity. The limits of detection for BPA in 14 kinds of foodstuffs ranged from 0.001 μg L^-1 to 0.01 μg kg^-1, and the limits of quantification were in the range from 0.003 μg L^-1 to 0.04 μg kg^-1. The recoveries of BPA from spiked samples ranged from 82.0% to 104.9%, with RSDs below 13.8%. Besides, the IAC exhibited good reusability, with 40% column capacity remaining and no significant loss of recovery after 25 application cycles in real sample detection. These results demonstrated that the developed IAC-UPLC-MS/MS approach has wide applicability for purifying and detecting BPA in various foodstuffs.

Bisphenol A and Bisphenol S release in milk under household conditions from baby bottles marketed in Italy

A simple and sensitive validated analytical method based on liquid chromatography coupled to tandem fluorescence (FD) and ultraviolet (UV) spectrophotometry was applied to monitor the presence of bisphenol A and bisphenol S in plastic baby bottles marketed in Italy. The limits of detection (LOD) were 3.75 ng mL^-1 and 80.00 ng mL^-1, and those of quantification (LOQ) were 12.51 ng mL^-1 and 260.00 ng mL^-1 for BPA (FD detection) and for BPS (UV detection), respectively. BPA was found in only four samples, two samples undergone to microwave heating and two samples undergone to bottle warmer heating either at 40°C or at 80°C. Although the quantities of leached BPA were well below the reference dose for daily intake established by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) (4.0 µg kg^-1 bw/day), the release of BPA and BPS from these plastic materials should be carefully considered by the government authorities to increase people's awareness on this issue and to protect the most vulnerable population group.

Sol-gel-graphene-based fabric-phase sorptive extraction for cow and human breast milk sample cleanup for screening bisphenol A and residual dental restorative material before analysis by HPLC with diode array detection

Fabric-phase sorptive extraction has already been recognized as a simple and green alternative to the conventional sorbent-based sorptive microextraction techniques, using hybrid organic-inorganic sorbent coatings chemically bonded to a flexible fabric surface. Herein, we have investigated the synergistic combination of the advanced material properties offered by sol-gel graphene sorbent and the simplicity of Fabric phase sorptive extraction approach in selectively extracting bisphenol A and residual monomers including bisphenol A glycerolatedimethacrylate, urethane dimethacrylate, and triethylene glycol dimethacrylate derived dental restorative materials from cow and human breast milk samples. Different coatings were evaluated. Final method development employed sol-gel graphene coated media. The main experimental parameters influencing extraction of the compounds, such as sorbent chemistry used, sample loading conditions, elution solvent, sorption stirring time, elution time, impact of protein precipitation, amount of sample, and matrix effect, were investigated and optimized. Absolute recovery values from standard solutions were 50% for bisphenol A, 78% for T triethylene glycol dimethacrylate, 110% for urethane dimethacrylate, and 103% for bisphenol A glycerolatedimethacrylate, while respective absolute recovery values from milk were 30, 52, 104, and 42%. Method validation was performed according to European Decision 657/2002/EC in terms of selectivity, sensitivity, linearity, accuracy, and precision.

Food consumption survey of Shanghai adults in 2012 and its associations with phthalate metabolites in urine

BACKGROUND

Diet is considered to be a significant exposure pathway for phthalates. In this study, we assessed the associations between food consumption and urinary concentrations of phthalate metabolites among Shanghai adults.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study involving 2418 participants was conducted in the fall of 2012. Recent food consumption was assessed by a 24-h dietary recall survey, and a Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) characterized long-term dietary patterns. Urinary metabolites of six phthalates were measured.

RESULTS

Both the 24-h recall survey and FFQ identified wheat, dairy, and fruits as being positively associated with the excretion of phthalate metabolites. The 24-h recall data also showed positive associations with processed meats and alcohol. We evaluated the impact of reported consumption of multiple food categories simultaneously (wheat, fruits, meats, etc.) on metabolite excretion and found that, as more food types were consumed, the number of metabolites excreted, as well as their concentrations, increased with high significance (p values<0.0001). We also evaluated the two survey instruments together. When both surveys reported consumption of fruits and dairy, the numbers of metabolites and their concentrations were significantly higher compared to when both surveys reported non-consumption, (p values<0.000001). Rice consumption was found to be negatively associated with phthalate excretion; frequent and high levels of rice consumption were found to be associated with lower excretion of metabolites.

CONCLUSION

Food consumption was associated with phthalate exposure in Shanghai adults. Both 24-h recall and FFQ identified significant associations between consumption of food types and phthalate exposure.

Phthalates in meat products in dependence on the fat content

The content of dibutylphthalate (DBP) and di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) in samples of packages intended for thermally processed meat products and release of phthalates from packages into meat products in dependence on the fat content were observed. 80 samples of packages were analyzed, 5 of them wereselected due to exceeding the specific migration limit. The raw meat was prepared, one type with the fat content of 10% and second one with the fat content of 50%. The both types of raw meat were analyzed for the content of DBP and DEHP and packed into chosen packages.The samples of meat products were thermally processed (70 ℃, 10 min in the core), stored until the expiration date at 4 °C and gradually analyzed after 1st, 7th, 14th, 21st and 28th day of storage. Determination of phthalates was carried out by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) in the Zorbax Eclipse C8column and by UV detection at a wavelength of 224 mm. The phthalate content in the raw meat was under the limit of detection. According to the EU Commission Regulation no. 10/2011 the specific migration limit of products intended for the contact with food for DEHP (max. 1.5 mg.kg-1of food stimulant and DBP max. 0.3 mg.kg-1 of food stimulant), wasexceeded already after first day of storage, in case of DBP in two samples with 10% of fat and after 7th day of storage in one sample. In the samples with 50% of fat, SML was exceeded after first day of storage in four samples and in one sample after 14th day of storage. Regarding DEHP in the samples with 10% of fat SML was exceeded after 1st day of storage in one sample and after 7th day of storage also in one sample and after 21st day of storage similarly in one sample. Four samples with 50% of fat had SML exceeded in case of DEHP already after 1st day of storage. By comparison of PAE migration depending on the fat content we concluded that leaching of PAE from a package into food was 2 - 21 times higher in samples with 50% of fat than in samples with 10% of fat.