Evaluation of Phthalic Acid Esters Contamination in Plastic Containers

To evaluate the contamination of phthalic acid esters(PAEs) in plastic containers,different materials of plastic water containers were selected as research object.Concentrations of PAEs in drinking water migrating from plastic containers were determined by solid-phase extraction-high performance liquid chromatography(SPEHPLC) and analyzed statically by adopting nonparametric tests.Only one sample was not found PAEs,and 73.1% of the samples contained more than two kinds of PAEs,in which diethyl phthalate was most extensive.The differences between material of plastic water containers and total concentrations of PAEs in drinking water were not statistically significant.However,container material had relation with the levels of dibutyl phthalate and butyl benzyl phthalate in drinking water.The differences between plastic containers color and total concentrations of PAEs in drinking water were not statistically significant.The levels of PAEs intake from drinking water in plastic containers were higher than that in glass containers.However,their proportions to RfD estimated by USEPA were less than 1 percent.Consequently,drinking water with qualified plastic containers is safe.It is not the main source of PAEs in body.