ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Determination of Phthalate Esters in Beverages
and Milk Using High Performance Liquid
Chromatography (HPLC)
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1
Department of Environmental Science, Lahore College for Women University, Lahore, Pakistan
2
Quality Operations Laboratory, Institute of Microbiology, University of Veterinary and Animal Science,
Lahore, Pakistan
Submission date: 2023-03-09
Final revision date: 2023-05-24
Acceptance date: 2023-06-16
Online publication date: 2023-10-27
Publication date: 2024-01-03
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2024;33(1):837-846
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ABSTRACT
Phthalates are commonly used plasticizers in the production of polyvinyl chloride and polyethylene
terephthalate plastics. However, due to their extensive use, phthalate esters are considered as ubiquitous
environmental pollutants. Beverages and packaged milk are susceptible to contamination by phthalate
ester during packaging, transportation, and storage process. This research aimed to quantify the
leaching of phthalate esters from commercial beverages and milk samples stored in plastic bottles.
Ultrasound and vortex assisted dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction, followed by high performance
liquid chromatography were used to analyze selected samples stored under various environmental
conditions. The findings showed that beverage bottles stored outdoor exhibited the highest chance of
phthalate leaching, followed by those stored at room temperature and 4ºC. The concentration of dibutyl
phthalate increased from 3.45 μg/ml (detection on purchase day) to 4.22 μg/ml (detection on expiry
day) average on the milk samples, while there was a significant increase in the concentration of diethyl
phthalate upon expiray compared to its concentration in fresh milk samples (3.33-11.91 μg/ml) average
on all samples. An average of 9.41 and 8.55 μg/ml, 11.4 and 9.23 μg/ml, 20.75 and 17.72 μg/ml of diethyl
phthalate and dibutyl phthalate were detected at 4ºC, room temperature and outdoor beverage samples
after four months of their storage.This study suggests that the inappropriate storage conditions of milk
and beverages enhances the leaching of phthalate esters from plastic matrix into the contained beverages
and milk. Although the leaching is slow, continuous usage may pose health effect.