US EPA

3045613 

Journal Article 

Abstract 

Non-carcinogenic risk from exposure to diethyl phthalate through bottled water consumption in children 

Jeddi, MZ; Yunesian, M; Rastkari, N; Ahmadkhaniha, R 

2015 

1 

Tropical Medicine and International Health
ISSN: 1360-2276
EISSN: 1365-3156 

20 

Supplement 1 

262-263 

English 

WOS:000360758801236 

is part of a larger document 3513636 Abstracts of the 9th European Congress on Tropical Medicine and International Health, 6-10 September 2015, Basel, Switzerland - Poster Sessions

The substances migrating from materials in contact with food have been recognized as important issues in human health and attracted increasing attention over the past decades. Throughout the world, Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is the most popular material for packaging, accounting for >99% of all beverage bottles. Previous studies demonstrated that PET bottles can release harmful chemicals such as the diethyl ester of phthalic acid (DEP). This compound not used directly in the PET production, but as non-intentionally added substances during the manufacturing of PET, may come from a wide variety of sources. Adverse effects of exposure to DEP on fertility parameters and development are considered relevant to humans, especially within a critical window of development. Data from animal studies indicate that DEP is rapidly and almost completely absorbed following oral or inhalation exposure, with 100% bioavailability by these routes. This contaminated food event caused shock and panic among the general public and bottled water safety becomes a controversial issue. So, the purpose of this study was:
1. to evaluate the intake of DEP from drinking bottled water
and health risk assessment; and
2. to assess the contribution of the bottled water to the DEP intake against on tolerable daily intake values.
DEP migration was investigated in six brands of PET-bottled water under different storage conditions at various time intervals using gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy. Eventually, a health risk assessment was conducted and the margin of exposure (MOE) was calculated. The results show that contact time with packaging material and storage temperatures causes release of DEP into water from PET bottles. But, when comparing the DEP concentration with the initial level, the results demonstrated that the release of phthalates were not substantial in all storage conditions especially at low temperatures (<25°C) and freezing conditions. The daily intake of DEP from bottled water was much lower than that reference value. However, the lowest MOE was estimated for high water consumers (children) but, the MOE was much higher than 1000, thus, low risk is implied. Consequently, PET-bottled water is not a major source of human exposure to DEP and from this perspective is safe for consumption.

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose. 

9th European Congress on Tropical Medicine and International Health 

Basel, Switzerland 

September 6-10, 2015