US EPA

2511045 

Journal Article 

Detection and Identification of Oestrogen-Active Substances in Plastic Food Packaging Migrates 

Kirchnawy, C; Mertl, J; Osorio, V; Hausensteiner, H; Washuettl, M; Bergmair, J; Pyerin, M; Tacker, M 

2014 

1 

Packaging Technology and Science
ISSN: 0894-3214
EISSN: 1099-1522 

John Wiley and Sons Ltd 

27 

6 

467-478 

English 

10.1002/pts.2047 

WOS:000337578500005 

Migrates from plastic food packaging were tested for oestrogen activity by yeast oestrogen screen and subsequently analysed by gas chromatographymass spectrometry and high-performance liquid chromatographymass spectrometry to identify oestrogen-active chemicals. Plastic samples were migrated according to EC 10/2011 with worst case scenarios being used. Food simulants consisted of either 10-95% ethanol or ultrapure water. Migrates were concentrated afterwards by solid phase extraction. Food contact material tested included polyethylene terephthalate, polypropylene, polyethylene, polystyrene and composite films. Oestrogenic activity ranging from 0.7 to 59ng/l 17 ss-estradiol equivalents was detected in seven out of 42 samples tested. The highest activity was found in a composite film sample. All 11 polyethylene terephthalate samples tested negative for oestrogen activity. A number of chemicals with known or supposed oestrogen activity were identified in migrates of oestrogen-active samples. These include butylated hydroxytoluene, 1,3-diphenylpropane, 1,2-diphenylcyclobutane and dibutyl phthalate. Copyright (c) 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. 

endocrine disruptors; plastic food packaging; migration; yeast oestrogen screen; GC; HPLC-MS