Determination of Six Common Phthalate Plasticizers in Grain Neutral Spirits and Vodka

Abstract

Two direct sample injection methods using liquid chromatography (LC) and gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC/MS) were used to determine phthalate residues in grain neutral spirits and vodka. Six reported phthalates were quantitated at concentrations as low as 20 μg/L (20 ppb) with no sample preparation or sample enrichment.

Phthalates in beverages - A review

“…In some synthetic corks used for wine and spirit bottling there was found diisobutyl phthalate. Concentrations about 200 µg/l of dibutyl phthalate was determinated in vodka samples in plastic packaging (Leibowitz et al, 1995). Other studies suggested that phthalate contamination is not caused by plastic cork or packaging, but by the technological process of production itself, as there was no significant difference in phthalate content regardless the plug or packaging, specifically, between wines plugged with a plastic or normal cork, and those stored in plastic or glass (Carrillo et al, 2008).…”

“…Phthalates migrate also to soft and alcoholic drinks (Leibowitz et al, 1995;Bošnir et al, 2007;Cao, 2008;Carrillo et al, 2008;Del Carlo et al, 2008;Russo et al, 2012;Cinelli et al, 2013;Chatonn et al, 2014;March and Cerdà, 2015;Wang et al, 2015;Jurica et al, 2016). Migration from plastic packaging to soft drinks is 5-40 times higher than migration to mineral water (Bošnir et al, 2007).…”

A Review of Plastics Use in Winemaking: HACCP Considerations

“…Levels of DBP in Japanese red wines were among the highest sampled at 0.275 µg/g: nearly 100% greater than in Korean wine. LC-GC-MS is an efficient method to examine phthalate residues in grain neutral spirits and vodka (Leibowitz et al 1995). Six reported phthalates were quantitated in 50 samples, although the detected concentrations of as little as 20 μg/L were insignificant compared to the suggested threshold for long-term exposure, 15 mg/L.…”

“…Greater quantities of DBP and DIBP were found in wine and beer compared to other beverages, with more than 94% of food samples containing these two plasticizers (Guo et al 2012). Other grain-neutral spirits and vodka contained phthalate plasticizers including DBP, DOP, and DEHP; however, they were considered biologically insignificant (Leibowitz et al 1995).…”

A study on the effect of phthalate esters and their metabolites on idiopathic infertile males

“…Indiscriminate use of phthalates and their environmental persistence is a serious health concern in humans (Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry, 1995, 1997, 2001, 2002; Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, 2003). These find their way to the human system through various routes and are detected at considerably high concentrations in the biological fluids (Brotons, Olea‐Serrano, Villalobos, Pedraza, & Olea, 1995; Giust, Seipelt, Anderson, Deis, & Hinders, 1990; Kataoka, Ise, & Narimatsu, 2002; Khaliq, Alam, & Srivastava, 1995; Leibowitz, Sarmiento, Sugar, & Ethridge, 1995; Rastogi, 1998). Phthalate esters such as di‐(2‐ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), dimethyl phthalate (DMP), diethyl phthalate (DEP), di‐n‐butyl phthalate (DBP), benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP) and di‐n‐octyl phthalate (DOP) are potential carcinogens.…”