Toxicological and hygienic assessment of phthalate content in bottled drinking water

Introduction. One of the most common materials containing phthalate impurities is packaging made of polymer materials (bottles). Bottles made of the following material are used for packaged (bottled) drinking water — polyethylene terephthalate (PET). The toxicological properties of phthalates, the increase in consumption of bottled water and uncertainty about the effect of storage conditions on the migration of phthalates into water initiates research on the toxicological and hygienic assessment of the content of phthalates in polymer packaging for bottled drinking water.The purpose of study was the toxicological and hygienic assessment of the content of di(2-ethylhexyl)-phthalate (DEHP); di-n-butyl phthalate (DnBP); diisobutyl phthalate (DiBP) in drinking water packed in polymer material.

Materials and methods. The objects of the study were bottles samples made in the Russian Federation. The obtained extracts (containers and model medium) were analyzed by gas chromatography with mass spectrometric detection. The values of daily consumption of phthalates with bottled water for adults and children were calculated, safety coefficients were determined taking into account the maximum concentrations obtained in the experiment.

Results. As a result of polymer materials studies, it was found that bottle samples contain residual amounts of phthalates – DEHP 1.7–4.2 mg/kg; DnBP < 2.4–31.3 mg/kg; DiBP 2.2–10.2 2 mg/kg. Migration of phthalates into aqueous model media was noted from all the samples studied.In the samples of model solutions in contact with PET material, on the 30th day at a temperature of 20 °C, the presence of 2 phthalates: DEHP 8.6–71.0 µ/l and DiBF <2.6 to 19.2 µ/l. Comparison of phthalate concentrations in model media with the values of permissible daily consumption showed that bottled water provides a limited contribution to the total daily exposure of phthalates.

Conclusion. The study results showed that the packaging made of PET is a source of chemical contamination of bottled water, which is based on the processes of migration of organic components from polymer materials. At the same time, special attention should be paid to the ability to migrate di(2-ethylhexyl)-phthalate, which can lead to excess of hygienic standards for drinking water.

Compliance with ethical standards. This study does not require the conclusion of a biomedical ethics committee or other documents.

Contribution of the authors:
Shilov V.V. — the concept and design of the study, editing;
Khurtsilava O.G. — writing a text, editing;
Markova O.L. — the concept and design of the study, collection and processing of material, writing a text;
Isaev D.S. — statistical analysis, editing;
Mikheyeva A.Yu. — collection and processing of material.
All co-authors — are approval of the final version of the article, responsibility for the integrity of all parts of the article.

Conflict of interest. Authors declare no conflict of interest. 

Funding. The study had no sponsorship. 

Received: March 24, 2023 / Accepted: May 26, 2023 / Published: June 30, 2023