Identification and quantification of migration of chemicals from plastics baby bottles used as substitutes for polycarbonate

Catherine Simoneau (1) , Liza van den Eede (1) , Sandro Valzacchi (1)

1 IHCP - JRC Institute for Health and Consumer Protection

This report presents the results of the study on the analytical identification and quantification of migration of chemicals from plastics baby bottles found in the EU market made of materials that are now present as substitutes for polycarbonate. 449 baby bottles with a focus on 1st age or sets of bottles were purchased from 26 EU countries, Canada, Switzerland, and USA. From this collection, which contained several duplicates, a total of 277 baby bottles were analysed. The materials included different types of plastic such as polycarbonate (PC), polyamide (PA), polyethersulfone (PES), polypropylene (PP), but also silicone, and from the USA a copolyester marketed under the trade name Tritan™. The bottles were subjected to the conventional migration test for hot fill conditions i.e. 2 hours at 70°C. The simulant used was that of specified in the EU legislation 2007/19/EC for milk, i.e. 50% EtOH. In a first phase one migration was conducted since the scope of this investigation was a screening rather than a true compliance testing check. Second and third migrations were performed on selected articles when migrated substances exceeded limits specified in the legislation. In order to verify some materials, a portion of the bottle was cut to run a FT-IR fingerprint to confirm the nature of the polymer. The migration solutions in general showed low release of substances. Results showed that bottles made of polypropylene and silicones showed a greater number of substances in the migration solutions and in greater quantity. Chemicals from polypropylene included alkanes, which could be found in >65% of the bottles at levels up to 3500 µg/kg, and benzene derivatives in 17% of the baby bottles and found at levels up to 113 µg/kg. Some substances were found on a regular basis such as plasticisers, esters, and antioxidants (e.g.tris(2,4-di-tert-butylphenyl)phosphate, known as Irgafos 168. Some substances found were not included in the Community positive list, which means that those should not be found even in the first migration. Such substances included 2,6-di-isopropylnaphthalene (DIPN), found in 4% of the bottles at levels up to 25µg/kg, 2,4-di-tert-butyl phenol (in 90% of the bottles at levels up 400 µg/kg.). Moreover, Bisphenol A was detected and quantified in baby bottles made of polyamide, but limited to one brand and model specific (but labelled BPA-free). Results for baby bottles made of silicone also indicated the presence of components for example potentially coming from inks (benzophenone, diisopropyl naphtahalene - DIPN, which could come for example from and could be from the presence of instruction leaflets in the bottles). In the case of silicone, phthalates were also found in relevant concentrations, with levels for DiBP and DBP from the first migration test of 50-150 µg/kg. and DEHP at levels 25-50 µg/kg.

Mots clés: Life Sciences

Catherine Simoneau, Liza van den Eede, Sandro Valzacchi. Identification and quantification of migration of chemicals from plastics baby bottles used as substitutes for polycarbonate. Food Additives and Contaminants, 2012, pp.1. ⟨10.1080/19440049.2011.644588⟩. ⟨hal-00777735⟩