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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #153046
Title: MIGRATION OF NONYLPHENOL, AN ENDOCRINE DISRUPTER, FROM PLASTIC CONTAINERS TO DRINKING WATER

Author
item LOYO-ROSALES, JORGE - UNIV. OF MARYLAND
item LYNCH, ANIKA - NORTHWEST HS, MD
item Rice, Clifford
item TORRENTS, ALBA - UNIV. OF MARYLAND

Submitted to: Institute of Food Technologists
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/14/2003
Publication Date: 7/14/2003
Citation: Loyo-Rosales, J.E., Lynch, A.M., Rice, C., Torrents, A. 2003. Migration of nonylphenol, an endocrine disrupter, from plastic containers to drinking water [abstract]. Institute of Food Technologists Annual Meeting, July 13-17, 2003, Chicago, IL. p. 156.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Recent interest in the impact of nonylphenols on human health has prompted numerous studies on the presence of endocrine disrupters in the environment. Nonylphenol (NP) has been shown to elicit this type of effect. NP is ubiquitous in food products, introduced to food from different sources, one of them being plastic containers. Average daily intake of NP via food was estimated at 7.5 ug/day. This value does not include NP intake from drinking water which is usually contained in plastic jugs. The objectives of this project were to quantify the amounts of NP in spring water bottled in different types of plastic containers (HDPE, PETE, and PVC) and to study the migration of NP from the plastic to the water. NP was extracted from spring water using solid-phase extraction and was analyzed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. NP migration from plastic containers was assessed by re-filling the jugs with carbon-free water and analyzing the water at different intervals. Our first results showed that NP was present in the water samples. Water in HDPE containers had 180 ng/L of NP (SD = 53; n = 6). NP was not detected in water contained in PETE jugs. Water in PVC had the highest amount of NP, 620 ng/L. Migration experiments showed that NP concentration in water from HDPE jugs increased from 16 to 280 ng/L after 10 days at 4oC to simulate long-term storage. No NP was detected in water from PETE jugs.