Phthalate acid esters (PAEs) in highly acidic juice packaged in polyethylene terephthalate (PET) container: Occurrence, migration and estrogenic activity-associated risk assessment

• Published in: Microchemical journal 2020-06, Vol.155, p.104719, Article 104719
• Main Authors: Arfaeinia, Leila, Dobaradaran, Sina, Nasrzadeh, Farzaneh, Shamsi, Shiva, Poureshgh, Yousef, Arfaeinia, Hossein
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Estrogenic activity; Health risk assessment; Highly acidic juice; Pet container; Phthalate esters
• ISSN: 0026-265X; 1095-9149
• DOI: 10.1016/j.microc.2020.104719

•Concentration of PAEs was determined in highly acidic juice kept in PET container.•DEHP was the major compound with the median value of 8.1, 10.5 and 9.8 μg/L for lemon juice, verjuice and vinegar.•DEHP concentration has exceeded the WHO (8 μg/L) and EPA (6 μg/L) allowable limit.•PAEs concentrations had significant correlation with storage time and storage temperature.•Significant but negative correlations were obtained between PAEs concentrations and pH.•PAEs in iranian highly acidic juice may pose estrogenic-based health risks. The present study aimed to investigate the concentration of PAEs, their migration from the walls of PET containers into highly acidic juices (such as lemon juice, vinegar, and verjuice) and the risk assessment based on the estrogenic potential of these widespread pollutants. We analyzed and quantified six priority compounds of PAEs, including dimethyl phthalate (DMP), diethyl phthalate (DEP), di-n‑butyl phthalate (DnBP), butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP), bis (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), and di-n-octyl phthalate (DnOP) in 40 samples of aforementioned juices packed in PET containers. The results showed that DEHP and DnBP were the major compounds with the median value of 8.1 and 6.8 µg/L, 10.5 and 7.2 µg/L, and 9.8 and 6.7 µg/ L, in lemon juice, vinegar, and verjuice, respectively. The results also showed that ∑PAEs concentration was higher in juices packed in PET containers than in glass containers (two sample t-test, pvalue < 0.05). A significant and positive correlation was observed between the concentration of PAEs and the storage temperature, storage time, and sun exposure of containers of juices (Pearson correlation test, pvalue