Migration of di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) and di-n-butylphthalate (DBP) from polypropylene food containers

Di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) and di-n-butylphthalate (DBP) exposure from food packaging material migration can adversely affect the reproductive, developmental, immune, and endocrine systems. The migration of DEHP and DBP from polyvinyl chloride plastic food containers was well documented. However, supposedly “green” polypropylene plastic food containers have not been examined. The objective of this preliminary study was to determine the level of phthalate migration from commercially available polypropylene food containers into food-alike aqueous solutions. The liquid samples were retrieved from polypropylene containers under four different pH values (3, 5, 7, 9) resembling acidic to basic conditions, with a heating time of 0–5 min. The results showed that both DEHP and DBP had the highest migration under strong acidity (pH=3), with the highest cumulative concentrations of 159.8 and 104.9 μg/L, respectively. Migration also increased with prolonged heating time. The highest migration of DBP from the polypropylene food container (0.6 mg/kg) exceeded specific migration limit.