Plasticisers Analysis in Food

Taiwanese drinks and food products have been found to be contaminated with a plasticiser, Di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate/Bis(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP). Large doses of DEHP were found to affect the liver and kidney as well as the reproduction and development of experimental animals. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified DEHP as possibly carcinogenic to humans (Group 2B).  Under the World Health Organisation (WHO) Guidelines of drinking water quality, the safety tolerable daily intake (TDI) level of DEHP is 0.025 mg/kg of body weight.

In Hong Kong, the Centre for Food Safety checks the level of plasticisers in foods regularly to safeguard the health of the public. The acceptable limits of the plasticisers in food are summarized as below:

• DEHP – bis (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate – do not exceed 1.5 ppm
• DBP – dibutyl phthalate – do not exceed 0.3 ppm
• DINP – di-isononyl phthalate – do not exceed 9 ppm

Besides, other plasticisers may also be present in food according to the GB standard (China):

• DMP – dimethyl phthalate
• DEP – diethyl phthalate
• DIBP – diisobutyl phthalate
• DBP – dibutyl phthalate
• DMEP – bis(2-methoxyethyl) phthalate
• BMPP – bis(4-methyl-2phenyl) phthalate
• DEEP – bis(2-ethoxyethyl) phthalate
• DPP – dipentyl phthalate
• DHXP – dihexyl phthalate
• BBP – benzyl butyl phthalate
• DBEP – bis (2-n-butoxyethyl) phthalate
• DCHP – dicyclohexyl phthalate
• DEHP – bis (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate
• DINP – di-isononyl phthalate
• DNOP – di-n-octyl phthalate
• DPHP – diphenyl phthalate
• DNP – dinonyl ortho-phthalate
• DIDP – diisodecyl phthalate

With our sophisticated analytical instruments (GC-MS and LC-MS/MS), we could help to detect all the above phthalates (18 types) in food/pharmaceutical products. To ensure your food products have not been contaminated with any type of plasticisers,  please contact us at 2676 2983 or e-mail: info@envirolabs.com.hk for details of the testing services.