Migration of mineral oil,photoinitiators and plasticisers from recycled paperboard into dry foods: a study under controlled conditions

Migration from recycled paperboard was monitored after 2, 4 and 9 months of storage for six test foods industrially packed in five configurations, four with internal plastic films. After 9 months, the migration of mineral oil saturated hydrocarbons into foods directly packed in the paperboard amounted to 30–52 mg/kg, which corresponded to 65%–80% of those of a volatility up to that of the n-alkane C₂₄ in the paperboard. The concentration of the migrated aromatic hydrocarbons in the foods ranged from 5.5 to 9.4 mg/kg. More than half of this migration occurred in the first 2 months. Differences between the foods amounted to mostly less than a factor of 2 and seemed to be related to porosity or permeability more than fat content. Nine photoinitiators were detected in the paperboard, of which eight migrated into the packed food at up to 24%. Several plasticisers were present in the recycled paperboard, but only butyl phthalates showed significant migration. After 9 months, up to 40% of diisobutyl phthalate and 20% of dibutyl phthalate migrated into the food with direct contact. The internal polyethylene film hardly slowed migration, but the film and the tray absorbed approximately three times more mineral oil than the food, despite constituting merely 4% of the mass of the pack. Oriented polypropylene strongly slowed migration: The highest migration of saturated hydrocarbons measured after 9 months (2.3 mg/kg) corresponded to only 3% of the content in the paperboard and included migrated polyolefin oligomeric saturated hydrocarbons. Coating of polypropylene with an acrylate further slowed the migration, but the migration from the paperboard was still detectable in four of the six samples. Polyethylene terephthalate was a tight barrier.     

Migration of polyolefin oligomeric saturated hydrocarbons (POSH) into food

POSH are polyolefin oligomeric saturated hydrocarbons, such as oligomers from polyethylene or polypropylene. POSH that have migrated into foods are easily mistaken for mineral oil-saturated hydrocarbons (MOSH). In fact, both POSH and MOSH largely consist of highly isomerised branched and possibly cyclic hydrocarbons, both forming humps of unresolved components in gas chromatography. Chromatograms are reported to show typical elution patterns of POSH and help analysts distinguishing POSH from MOSH as far as possible. Since the structures of the POSH are not fundamentally different from those of the MOSH, it would be prudent to apply the evaluation of the MOSH. However, the migration is frequently beyond that for which safety has been demonstrated. This is shown for a few examples, particularly for powdered formula for babies.     

食用植物油中矿物油污染物的分析进展

近年来,奶粉,特别是婴幼儿配方奶粉中的矿物油污染受到公众关注,相关国际监管逐渐升级。然而,目前还没有针对奶粉中矿物油的标准检测方法。本文依据欧盟的限量规定和分析要求,改进和优化了样品前处理方法,依次采用皂化法、正己烷提取、硅胶净化、环氧化反应方法,最后利用高效液相色谱-气相色谱联用技术（HPLC-GC）建立了奶粉中饱和烃矿物油（MOSH）和芳香烃矿物油（MOAH）的高灵敏检测方法。结果表明,该方法的定量限（LOQ）达到0.5 mg/kg,回收率为81.1%~112.0%（RSD=0.3%~3.8%）,满足欧洲联合研究中心（JRC）的方法要求。应用该方法分析了国际能力验证样品,结果发现,C₁₆~C₂₅和C₂₅~C₃₅的MOSH和MOAH的检测结果均接近真值,其z'比分数的绝对值均小于2,说明方法通过验证,建议可参考本方法制定奶粉中MOSH和MOAH的含量检测标准。     

纸质食品包装材料的矿物油迁移研究进展

食品中的矿物油污染物是指石油来源的C10~C50烃类化合物, 包括烷烃矿物油(mineral oil saturated hydrocarbons, MOSH)和芳烃矿物油(mineral oil aromatic hydrocarbons, MOAH)2大类。近年来的研究表明, 食品中的矿物油污染物主要来源于食品的回收纸包装材料迁移。本文综述了国外近十年来纸质包装材料的矿物油迁移研究情况, 包括纸质包装材料迁移的矿物油分析方法——液相色谱-气相色谱联用法; 矿物油迁移至食品的2种方式: 气态扩散迁移和包装材料接触迁移; 降低矿物油迁移的技术方法, 即食品包装纸质材料的回收工艺, 向包装纸质中添加活性炭等吸附剂以及增加阻隔层以阻挡矿物油的迁移。旨在为相关企业和机构提供数据与技术参考。     

Migration of mineral oil from party plates of recycled paperboard into foods: 1. Is recycled paperboard fit for the purpose? 2. Adequate testing procedure

Party plates made of recycled paperboard with a polyolefin film on the food contact surface (more often polypropylene than polyethylene) were tested for migration of mineral oil into various foods applying reasonable worst case conditions. The worst case was identified as a slice of fried meat placed onto the plate while hot and allowed to cool for 1?h. As it caused the acceptable daily intake (ADI) specified by the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) to be exceeded, it is concluded that recycled paperboard is generally acceptable for party plates only when separated from the food by a functional barrier. Migration data obtained with oil as simulant at 70°C was compared to the migration into foods. A contact time of 30?min was found to reasonably cover the worst case determined in food.     

固相萃取柱净化-气相色谱法定量测定食用植物油中饱和烃类矿物油

目的以自制硫酸硅胶和10%硝酸银硅胶填料分层装填的复合固相萃取柱为净化手段,建立一种测定食用植物油中饱和烃类矿物油的分析方法。方法样品经正己烷提取,固相萃取柱净化,氮吹浓缩,然后经DB-1石英毛细管色谱柱分离,采用气相色谱-火焰离子化检测器检测,外标法定量。结果考察了填料类型、填料用量、洗脱体积等因素对提取效率的影响。在优化的条件下,饱和烃类矿物油检测的线性范围为5.0~500.0mg/L,相关系数r~2=0.9991,方法检出限为3.0 mg/kg,定量限为10.0 mg/kg。样品在10.0、20.0、50.0 mg/kg 3个水平下的加标回收率为93.2%~103.7%,相对标准偏差为3.97%~5.33%(n=6)。结论该法操作简单、快速、准确度高,检出限能满足对食用植物油中饱和烃类矿物油残留的检测要求,且使用常规分析仪器、分析成本低,值得推广应用。     

Mineral oil hydrocarbons in food: a review

Work on mineral oil hydrocarbons (MOH) contaminating food is reviewed up to about 2010, when the subject received broad publicity. It covers the period of the main discoveries and elimination or reduction of the dominant sources: release agents used in industrial bakeries, spraying of rice, additions to animal feed, contamination of edible oils from various sources and migration from paperboard packaging. In most cases, highly refined (‘white’) oils were involved, but also technical oils, e.g. from the environment, and more or less crude oil fractions from jute and sisal bags. There were numerous unexpected sources, and there might still be more of those. The exposure of the consumers to MOH must have been markedly reduced in the meantime. Environmental influx may have become dominant, particularly when taking into account that these MOH go through several degradation processes which might enrich the species resisting metabolic elimination. Major gaps are in the systematic investigation of sources and the largely unavoidable levels from environmental contamination, but also in the toxicological evaluation of the various types of hydrocarbons. A regulation is overdue that avoids the present discrepancy between the low tolerance to MOH perceived as contaminants and the very high legal limits for some applications – the MOH are largely the same.     

Migration kinetics of mineral oil hydrocarbons from recycled paperboard to dry food: monitoring of two real cases

Mineral oil hydrocarbons present in printing inks and recycled paper migrate from paper-based food packaging to foods primarily through the gas phase. Migration from two commercial products packed in recycled paperboard, i.e. muesli and egg pasta, was monitored up to the end of their shelf life (1 year) to study the influence of time, storage conditions, food packaging structure and temperature. Mineral oil saturated and aromatic hydrocarbons (MOSH and MOAH, respectively), and diisopropyl naphthalenes (DIPN) were monitored using online HPLC-GC/FID. Storage conditions were: free standing, shelved, and packed in transport boxes of corrugated board, to represent domestic, supermarket and warehouse storage, respectively. Migration to food whose packs were kept in transport boxes was the highest, especially after prolonged storage, followed by shelved and free-standing packs. Tested temperatures were representative of refrigeration, room temperature, storage in summer months and accelerated migration testing. Migration was strongly influenced by temperature: for egg pasta directly packed in paperboard, around 30 mg kg^?1 of MOSH migrated in 8 months at 20°C, but in only 1week at 40°C. Muesli was contained into an internal polyethylene bag, which firstly adsorbed hydrocarbons and later released them partly towards the food. Differently, the external polypropylene bag, containing pasta and recycled paper tray, strongly limited the migration towards the atmosphere and gave rise to the highest level of food contamination. Tests at increased temperatures not only accelerated migration, but also widened the migration of hydrocarbons to higher molecular masses, highlighting thus a difficult interpretation of data from accelerated simulation.     

定量分析食品中的矿物油污染物

矿物油是碳数为10~50的直链、支链和烷基取代的环状饱和烷烃与芳香烃的混合物,其化学组成非常复杂。近年来,食品中的矿油油污染问题受到持续关注,主要原因是食品包装涉及使用回收纸和再生纸,其残留印刷油墨中的大量工业级矿物油造成与其接触食品的污染。调查显示:几乎所有食品中都或多或少含有矿物油。目前,国内对于食品中矿物油的分析方法还仅局限于定性鉴别。欧洲对矿物油的定量研究较多,陆续开发出在线联用的高效液相色谱-气相色谱-氢火焰离子化器检测法(HPLC-GC-FID)、离线固相萃取法(SPE-GC-FID)以及二维气相色谱法(GC×GC)等定量分析方法。本文综述了食品中矿物油污染物的最新分析技术、操作步骤以及定量结果的数据处理方法,目的是通过借鉴,研发出适用于我国食品中矿物油的定量分析方法,开展市售食品调查,保障食品安全。     

离线SPE-LVI-GC-FID法分析婴儿配方奶粉中的饱和烃类矿物油

建立婴儿配方奶粉中饱和烃类矿物油(mineral oil saturated hydrocarbons,MOSH)的离线固相萃取(solid phase extraction,SPE)结合大体积进样-气相色谱-氢火焰离子化检测器(large volume injection-gas chromatographyflame ionization detection,LVI-GC-FID)的分析方法。该方法以正己烷为提取溶剂,提取液经硝酸银渍硅胶SPE柱净化;通过比较不同长径比SPE柱的净化效果,确定以5 mL玻璃注射器作为分离MOSH的SPE柱,收集洗脱液5 mL,浓缩后注入LVI-GC-FID测定。GC的进样口升温程序为:初始温度45℃,保持1 min(分流比200∶1),以250℃/min升温至360℃(分流阀关闭2 min),并保持27 min(分流比为100∶1);柱温箱升温程序为:35℃保持3 min,以25℃/min升温至350℃,再以5℃/min升温至370℃,保持10 min;FID温度380℃;进样量40μL。结果表明:MOSH的标准品液体石蜡在2~500 mg/kg范围内呈良好线性关系,相关系数为0.999,方法的定量限为0.05 mg/kg,加标回收率在92.62%~102.86%之间,相对标准偏差在0.85%~2.57%之间,适用于婴儿配方奶粉中MOSH的定量分析。应用该方法检测市售10种婴儿配方奶粉中的MOSH含量,其结果在0.24~1.30 mg/kg之间,其中MOSH(C16~C35)含量在0.12~0.85 mg/kg之间,表明有必要对婴儿配方奶粉中的矿物油污染进行监管。     

Analysis of saturated and aromatic hydrocarbons migrating from a polyolefin-based hot-melt adhesive into food

Hot-melt adhesives are widely utilised to glue cardboard boxes used as food packaging material. They have to comply with the requirements of Article 3 of the European Framework Regulation for food contact materials (1935/2004). The hot melt raw materials analysed mainly consisted of paraffinic waxes, hydrocarbon resins and polyolefins. The hydrocarbon resins, functioning as tackifiers, were the predominant source of hydrocarbons of sufficient volatility to migrate into dry foods: the 18 hydrocarbon resins analysed contained 8.2–118 g kg^–1 saturated and up to 59 g kg^–1 aromatic hydrocarbons eluted from GC between n-C₁₆ and n-C₂₄, substantially more than the paraffinic waxes and the polyolefins. These tackfier resins, especially the oligomers ≤ C₂₄, have been characterised structurally by GC×GC-MS and ¹H-NMR spectroscopy. Migration into food was estimated using a simulating system with polenta as food simulant, which was verified by the analysis of a commercial risotto rice sample packed in a virgin fibre folding box sealed with a hot melt. About 0.5–1.5% of the potentially migrating substances (between n-C₁₆ and n-C₂₄) of a hot melt were found to be transferred into food under storage conditions, which can result in a food contamination in the order of 1 mg kg^–1 food (depending on the amount of potentially migrating substances from the hot melt, the hot melt surface, amount of food, contact time etc.). Migrates from hot melts are easily mistaken for mineral oil hydrocarbons from recycled cardboard.     

补喂油菜籽对放牧牦牛乳的影响

研究了补饲经脱毒处理的油菜籽在青草期和枯黄期对放牧牦牛乳的影响。结果表明,对照组(未补饲油菜籽)在青草期和枯黄期中的乳脂率分别是6.58%±0.52%和7.18%±1.04%,与对照组相比,补饲100g/d油菜籽组的乳脂率在青草期和枯黄期都不受影响,补饲200g/d油菜籽组的乳脂率在青草期和枯黄期时分别为5.81%±0.62%和6.53%±0.86%,乳脂率显著降低(P<0.05);在青草期和枯黄期,补饲油菜籽对各试验组的乳产量、乳蛋白率和乳糖率无显著影响,而枯黄期补饲200g/d油菜籽组,乳干物质含量显著降低。     

Determination of the aromatic hydrocarbon to total hydrocarbon ratio of mineral oil in commercial lubricants

A method was developed to determine the aromatic hydrocarbon to total hydrocarbon ratio of mineral oil in commercial lubricants; a survey was also conducted of commercial lubricants. Hydrocarbons in lubricants were separated from the matrix components of lubricants using a silica gel solid phase extraction (SPE) column. Normal-phase liquid chromatography (NPLC) coupled with an evaporative light-scattering detector (ELSD) was used to determine the aromatic hydrocarbon to total hydrocarbon ratio. Size exclusion chromatography (SEC) coupled with a diode array detector (DAD) and a refractive index detector (RID) was used to estimate carbon numbers and the presence of aromatic hydrocarbons, which supplemented the results obtained by NPLC/ELSD. Aromatic hydrocarbons were not detected in 12 lubricants specified for use for incidental food contact, but were detected in 13 out of 22 lubricants non-specified for incidental food contact at a ratio up to 18%. They were also detected in 10 out of 12 lubricants collected at food factories at a ratio up to 13%. The centre carbon numbers of hydrocarbons in commercial lubricants were estimated to be between C16 and C50.     

Saturated and aromatic mineral oil hydrocarbons from paperboard food packaging: estimation of long-term migration from contents in the paperboard and data on boxes from the market

In the absence of a functional barrier, mineral oil hydrocarbons from printing inks and recycled fibres tend to migrate from paper-based food-packaging materials through the gas phase into dry food. Concentrations easily far exceed the limit derived from the acceptable daily intake (ADI) of the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA). Since the estimation of long-term migration into the food by testing at 40°C for 10 days is difficult, it seems preferable (and easier) to use the mineral oil content in the paperboard. Evaporation experiments showed that hydrocarbons eluted up to about n-C₂₄ are sufficiently volatile for relevant migration into dry food: in worst-case situations, about 80% migrate into the packed food. The extraction of the paperboard was optimised to give good recovery of the relevant hydrocarbons, but to discriminate against those of high molecular mass which tend to disturb gas chromatographic analysis in on-line coupled normal phase HPLC-GC-FID. Even though some of the relevant hydrocarbons had already evaporated, the average concentration of?<?C₂₄ mineral oil saturated hydrocarbons (MOSH) in the paperboard boxes of 102 products from the Swiss and Italian market was 626?mg?kg^?1. Nearly 15% of investigated boxes still contained more than 1000?mg?kg^?1?<?C₂₄ MOSH up to over 3000?mg?kg^?1 (maximum?=?3500?mg?kg^?1). This amount of MOSH in the board have the potential of contaminating the packed food at a level exceeding the limit, derived from the JECFA ADI, hundreds of times.     

Determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in commonly consumed Nigerian smoked/grilled fish and meat

Smoking and/or grilling, when carried out with traditional methods involving direct contact with wood combustion fumes, is responsible for high contamination levels with carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The aim of this work was to investigate the PAH content of different smoked or grilled meat and fish products commonly consumed in Nigeria. A rapid method involving microwave-assisted saponification and simultaneous extraction followed by solid-phase extraction (SPE), high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) separation and spectrofluorometric detection was employed. Samples that were smoked or grilled using traditional systems, which use a wood fire, were heavily contaminated with benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) at levels ranging from 2.4 to 31.2 µg kg^?1 wet weight. Considerably lower contamination levels were found in samples smoked or grilled in the laboratory using a charcoal fire (BaP from 0.7 to 2.8 µg kg^?1 wet weight). The health risk associated with a daily consumption of 100 g of these products was also evaluated using the margin of exposure (MOE) approach. MOE values lower than 10,000 were obtained for all smoked/grilled commercial samples, indicating a potential concern for consumer health.     

Dietary exposure and risk assessment of European Union priority (EU 15+1) polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from milks and milk powders in China

Dairy products, characterized by rich nutrition and unique flavor, occupy an increasing share of the human diet with the development of higher living standards. However, trace hazardous contaminants in dairy products, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), are arousing public concern. In this study, we investigated 82 milks and milk powders from Shanghai markets for the occurrence of 20 PAH, including 16 European Union priority (EU 15+1) PAH and 4 derivatives. Furthermore, we carried out a risk assessment of dietary exposure of PAHs from dairy products based on detection results and data on body weight and dietary intake obtained from questionnaires. Two assessment methods were used in this study: the incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) and margin of exposure (MOE) methods. The ILCR of all age groups was 10^?6 to 10^?4, indicating a potential but acceptable carcinogenic risk. The MOE of the 4 groups (divided by age and sex) was >10⁴, indicating no significant carcinogenic risk of PAH exposure from dairy products. In both methods, children had the highest risk because of their greater consumption of dairy products, followed by seniors, young adults, and middle-aged adults. Results of this study provide reference data on the exposure level and health risk of PAHs from dairy product intake.     

Analytical determination of bisphenol A (BPA) and bisphenol analogues in paper products by GC-MS/MS

ABSTRACT

Bisphenol A (BPA; 4-[2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)propan-2-yl]phenol), a suspected endocrine disruptor with a weak estrogenic activity, is used in a variety of consumer products, including food-contact materials made of paper and cardboard products. Due to restrictions on the use of BPA because of its potential health risks, BPA is gradually being replaced by other bisphenols because no limitations exist for these substances. This study presents a method for the simultaneous analysis of BPA, bisphenol AF (BPAF), bisphenol B (BPB), bisphenol E (BPE), bisphenol F (BPF) and bisphenol S (BPS) in paper and board products using gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS). Paper samples were extracted by liquid extraction, as well as by Folch extraction, derivatised with N,O-bis(trimethylsilyl)trifluoroacetamide (BSTFA) and the results compared. The developed method showed good linearity (R² > 0.9965) and precision, yielding relative standard deviations (RSDs) of less than 16.6% for reproducibility and 19.8% for repeatability. The limits of detection and limits of quantification for the different bisphenols ranged from 0.23 to 2.70 µg kg^–1 paper and from 0.78 to 9.10 µg kg^–1 paper, respectively. Analysis of different paper products (recycled, virgin fibre) showed that all the analysed bisphenols were present in the samples, except for BPAF and BPB. A calculation of the ‘worst-case’ scenario assuming a maximum potential migration of 100% of the analytes into food showed that the analysed products can be assumed to be safe regarding the migration of bisphenols.