Phthalates and Heavy Metals as Endocrine Disruptors in Food: a Study on Pre-Packed Coffee Products

Publication date: Available online 17 May 2017 Source:Toxicology Reports Author(s): Luca De Toni, Francesco Tisato, Roberta Seraglia, Marco Roverso, Valentina Gandin, Cristina Marzano, Roberto Padrini, Carlo Foresta Phthalate plasticizers and heavy metals are widely recognized to be pollutants that interfere with key developmental processes such as masculinization. We investigated the release of phthalates and heavy metals in coffee brewed from coffee packed in single-serve coffee containers made from different types of materials: metal, biodegradable and plastics. We detected with GC–MS small amounts phthalates, below the tolerated daily risks levels, in all the coffees prepared from the different types of capsules. Specifically, Di (2-ethyl-hexyl)-phthalate and DiBP: Diisobuthyl-pthalate were ubiquitously present despite the high variability among the samples (respective range 0.16–1.87μg/ml and 0.01–0.36μg/ml). Whereas, diethyl-phthalate (range 0.20–0.26μg/ml) and di-n-buthyl-phthalate (range 0.02–0.14μg/ml) were detected respectively in one and three out of the four types of capsule tested. In contrast, we detected by atomic mass spectrometry on mineralized samples heavy metals lead (Pb) and nickel (Ni), in all coffee tested. PB levels (respective range 0.32–211.57μg/dose) accounted for 42–79%, whereas Ni levels (respective range 166.25–1950.26μg/dose) accounted for >100% of the tolerable daily intake. These results adds to the alrea...

Source: Toxicology Reports - May 18, 2017 Category: Toxicology Source Type: research