Phthalates and Alternative Plasticizers in Duplicated Diet Samples from Korea

Area of Science:

• Environmental Health
• Food Safety
• Analytical Chemistry

Background:

• Phthalic acid esters (PAEs) and alternative plasticizers (APs) are prevalent in food packaging materials.
• Dietary exposure to these plasticizers is a significant concern for human health.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantify diet-only exposure to PAEs and APs in Korean adults.
• To investigate the shift in plasticizer composition and assess cumulative health risks.

Main Methods:

• Gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS) was used to analyze 370 duplicate-diet samples from 124 Korean adults.
• Participants provided three nonconsecutive 24-hour dietary collections and food intake diaries.

Main Results:

• Total plasticizer concentrations varied widely, with DEHP being the predominant PAE and DEHTP, ATBC, and DINCH being significant APs.
• The proportion of APs increased with higher exposure levels, constituting 57% in the highest quartile.
• Higher consumption of delivered meals and dining out correlated with increased plasticizer exposure.

Conclusions:

• A compositional shift from PAEs to APs in dietary exposure was observed.
• A significant percentage of samples exceeded the cumulative antiandrogenic reference dose, highlighting potential health risks.
• The study provides a baseline for monitoring plasticizer trends and identifying exposure sources.