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In order to identify potential genotoxicant(s) in recycled paperboard, samples were fractionated using multiple liquid/liquid extraction, and gel permeation chromatography, and analysed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry. The rec-assay was used as an indicator of genotoxicity. Genotoxicants in the recycled paperboard were identified as dehydroabietic acid (DHA) and abietic acid (AA). DHA and AA were detected in two out of five virgin products, and in all seven recycled products for food-contact use. Total amounts of DHA and AA were 240 and 990 microg/g in the virgin products and 200-990 microg/g in the recycled products. A good correlation was observed in the total amount of DHA and AA content determined in paper products and DNA-damaging activity. Moreover, genotoxic effects in paper products showed a good match with standard compounds, indicating that the genotoxic effects of these paper products was mostly attributable to DHA and AA.

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The long-term monitoring of organophosphoric acid triesters started in 1976 in the Yodo River basin; Lake Biwa, Yodo River and the rivers in Osaka City. An extensive survey was also conducted in the Yamato River and Osaka Bay, Japan. This report presents the current levels and distributions of OPEs as well as the historical trend of TDCPP. Some or all of OPEs studied here have been detected in the entire water samples over the monitoring period. It was clear that OPEs were ubiquitous pollutants in the river and coastal waters. Total OPE levels ranged from 0.4 to 2.4 µgl−1 in the Yodo River basin, 2.4 to 12 µgl−1 in the rivers in Osaka City, 18 to 28 µgl−1 in the Yamato River basin and 0.1 to 1.3 µgl−1 in Osaka Bay. An apparent difference was found in the individual OPE level among the different water areas surveyed. In the Lake Biwa and the Yodo River, the predominant compound was TBXP followed by TCEP and TDCPP. The higher levels were observed for TBXP, TEP, TCPP and TCEP in the rivers in Osaka City. The highest TCPP level, which occupied more than 70% of OPEs' composition, was observed and the mean level reached to 13.1µgl−1 in the Yamato River. In Osaka Bay, 6 kinds of OPEs, except for TPP, TEHP and TCP, were found and the most prevalent compounds were TCEP and TBP. TDCPP had gradually increased in concentration in the Yodo River basin until 1987 from 1976 year by year. However, the reverse trend of TDCPP has been noticed during the last several years.

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles are some of the most commonly used containers for beverages. During the manufacturing process of PET resin in Japan, metallic catalysts such as Sb and Ge are widely used, with other metals or metallic compounds also being employed to improve the quality of PET bottles. However, few reports into the contents of such elements exist. Thus, we herein report the concentrations of 34 elements (ie, Li, B, Na, Mg, Al, P, K, Ca, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ga, Ge, As, Se, Rb, Sr, Zr, Mo, Ag, Cd, Sn, Sb, Cs, Ba, W, Pb, and U) in 16 samples of unused virgin PET bottles for beverages. The measurement was performed by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP‐OES) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP‐MS), and these bottles were found to contain five main elements (ie, <0.5‐ to 50‐mg/kg Ge, <1‐ to 26‐mg/kg Ti, <0.1‐ to 279‐mg/kg Sb, <10‐ to 48‐mg/kg P, and <0.5‐ to 53‐mg/kg Co) that were used as polymerisation catalysts, stabilisers, oxidation catalysts, and bluing agents. Furthermore, when these residual element concentrations in 21 commercial mineral‐water PET bottles were determined, there was no significant difference from unused bottles.

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