Migration of phenolic brominated flame retardants from contaminated food contact articles into food simulants and foods.
Level 5 - mechanism / opinion, no new human data
Level 5 by design analogy (laboratory analytical chemistry bench study with no human data)
PubMed 33493090 · doi:10.1080/19440049.2020.1871082
What was done
UHPLC-MS/MS migration tests were performed on food contact articles contaminated with unapproved brominated flame retardants (BFRs: 2,4,6-tribromophenol [TBP], 3,3',5,5'-tetrabromobisphenol A [TBBPA], and 1,2,5,6,9,10-hexabromocyclododecane [HBCD]) purchased from the US market. Mass transfer was evaluated into four food simulants (water, 3% acetic acid, 10% ethanol, and 50% ethanol) and three real foods (milk, coffee, and chicken bouillon soup).
What was found
The analytical method achieved r² ≥ 0.999, limit of detection (LOD) ≤ 0.3 ng mL⁻¹, and relative standard deviation (RSD) ≤ 1.7% (n = 7). HBCD was unstable under migration conditions and was not detected in any sample, food, simulant, or positive control. Phenolic BFRs (TBP and TBBPA) migrated at concentrations ranging from non-detected to 73 µg kg⁻¹ in food simulants and from 1 to 23 µg kg⁻¹ in real foods, with highest migration occurring in the 50% ethanol food simulant.
Why it matters
This study demonstrates that unapproved phenolic flame retardants present in contaminated food contact plastics directly leach into real dietary liquids, particularly alcohol- or lipid-mimicking media.
Limits
The abstract does not state the total number or specific polymer types of food contact articles evaluated. HBCD degraded under testing conditions, preventing migration assessment. Real-world human dietary exposure and toxicological endpoints were not assessed.
Cited by
- supports Black plastic used in food containers is often sourced from recycled electronics containing toxic flame retardants that leach into food.