Effect‐directed identification of endocrine disruptors in plastic baby teethers

Plastics are known sources of chemical exposure and few, prominent plastic-associated chemicals, such as bisphenol A and phthalates, have been thoroughly studied. However, a comprehensive characterization of the complex chemical mixtures present in plastics is missing. In this study, we benchmark plastic consumer products, covering eight major polymer types, according to their toxicological and chemical signatures using in vitro bioassays and nontarget high-resolution mass spectrometry. Most (74%) of the 34 plastic extracts contained chemicals triggering at least one end point, including baseline toxicity (62%), oxidative stress (41%), cytotoxicity (32%), estrogenicity (12%), and antiandrogenicity (27%). In total, we detected 1411 features, tentatively identified 260, including monomers, additives, and nonintentionally added substances, and prioritized 27 chemicals. Extracts of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and polyurethane (PUR) induced the highest toxicity, whereas polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and high-density polyethylene (HDPE) caused no or low toxicity. High baseline toxicity was detected in all “bioplastics” made of polylactic acid (PLA). The toxicities of low-density polyethylene (LDPE), polystyrene (PS), and polypropylene (PP) varied. Our study demonstrates that consumer plastics contain compounds that are toxic in vitro but remain largely unidentified. Since the risk of unknown compounds cannot be assessed, this poses a challenge to manufacturers, public health authorities, and researchers alike. However, we also demonstrate that products not inducing toxicity are already on the market.

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“…Article casings of consumer electronics, 17 baby teething toys, 49 and pet toys. 50 Antiandrogenicity was reported in FCMs 48 and baby products.…”

Section: Environmental Science and Technologymentioning

confidence: 99%

Benchmarking the in Vitro Toxicity and Chemical Composition of Plastic Consumer Products

Zimmermann

Dierkes

Ternes

et al. 2019

Environ. Sci. Technol.

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278

231

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“…2, because only traces of MeP could be detected in the respective gel materiel (<LOD), conrming results of the non-target chemical analysis of the plastic material in the previous study. 11 It remains unknown whether the parabens in the gel and plastic materials were added as a mixture to only one of them during the teether production and transferred into the other one by pure migration. Alternatively, the parabens might have been added as a mixture to both materials or one paraben might have been added to the gel and another paraben to the plastic.…”

Section: Paraben Concentrations In Gel-lled Baby Teethersmentioning

confidence: 99%

Analysis of alkyl esters of p-hydroxybenzoic acid (parabens) in baby teethers via gas chromatography-quadrupole mass spectrometry (GC-qMS) using a stable isotope dilution assay (SIDA)

2016

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Alkyl esters of p-hydroxybenzoic acid (parabens) are well-known to be used as preservatives in pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and food products due to their antimicrobial effect. However, parabens are also known to act as endocrine disruptors. Thus, if manufactures of consumer goods use parabens particularly in products for infants and young children, this application should be considered as critical and should be thoroughly investigated, at least if an intake into the body cannot be excluded. The present work describes an analytical method for the analysis of methyl-, ethyl-and n-propylparaben (MeP, EtP and n-PrP) in plastic and gel material from baby teethers filled with cooling gel. Measurements were performed with gas chromatography-quadrupole mass spectrometry (GC-qMS) on N,O-bis(trimethylsilyl)trifluoroacetamide (BSTFA) derivatized parabens. Samples were prepared applying ultrasonic assisted extraction (UAE) using methanol as the solvent. For quantification, a stable isotope dilution assay (SIDA) was used that showed good recoveries for spiked gel material, which ranged from 82 to 119%. The baby teether analyses showed that parabens were present in all considered plastic and gel samples. Furthermore, in all gel samples (2E,4E)-hexa-2,4-dienoic acid (sorbic acid) was identified as an additional preservative.a Mean concentration value with range (number in brackets) from two independently prepared samples; LOD: limit of detection; LOQ: limit of quantication; SD: standard deviation. b Mean value and standard deviation (number in brackets) from repeatability test (intra-day precision, n ¼ 5). c Same product as no. 1 but different lot number purchased about one year later. Fig. 1 GC-qMS chromatograms of target screening for methylparaben (MeP), ethylparaben (EtP) and n-propylparaben (n-PrP) with the internal standard methylparaben-d 4 (MeP-d 4 ). (A) Calibration level 50 mg 10 mL À1 and (B) gel sample extract of baby teether no. 3.This journal is

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“…We detected in vitro oestrogenic and antiandrogenic activities leaching from 2 out of 10 baby teethers. Using non-target gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry, we identified methylparaben and propylparaben as compounds causing the endocrine activity in one product 19. The parabens readily leached to water, simulating the baby's saliva, implying that an exposure is likely.…”

Section: Old and New Acquaintances In Unexpected Placesmentioning

confidence: 99%