Migration of 2-butoxyethyl acetate from polycarbonate infant feeding bottles.
An enforcement campaign was carried out to assess the migration of 2-butoxyethyl acetate (2-BEA) from polycarbonate infant feeding bottles intended for repeated use. Migration was measured by three successive migration tests into two of the European Union official food simulants: distilled water and 3% acetic acid testing at 40 degrees C for 10 days. The Danish Veterinary and Food Administration (DVFA) has assessed that a migration above 0.33 mg for 2-BEA and a group of eight related substances kg(-1) foodstuff from plastics articles used exclusively for infants is unacceptable. Migration of 2-BEA was found from eight of 12 bottles. However, migration above the target value of 0.33 mg kg(-1) was not observed in the third decisive test from any of the 12 different brands of polycarbonate feeding bottles. A migration of between 0.05 and 0.26 mg kg(-1) from seven of 12 bottles was measured to 3% acetic acid in the third test, whereas no migration to distilled water was observed in the third test. The average recovery of 2-BEA after the 10-day exposure at the target value of 0.33 mg kg(-1) was 77% into distilled water and 36% into 3% acetic acid. The limited recovery was understandable as 2-BEA was partly hydrolysed in the aqueous food simulants and 2-butoxyethanol, a hydrolysis product and one of the related substances was identified. Quantification was carried out using gas chromatography after liquid/liquid extraction of the food simulant.
Petersen
J H
JH
Institute of Food Safety and Nutrition, Danish Veterinary and Food Administration, Søborg, Denmark. jhp@fdir.dk
Lund
K H
KH
D000085:Acetates / Q000737:chemistry*; D001903:Bottle Feeding; D003297:Cooking and Eating Utensils; D004058:Diffusion; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D015370:Infant Equipment; D007225:Infant Food / Q000032:analysis; D011076:Polycarboxylate Cement / Q000737:chemistry*; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care
D000085:Acetates; D011076:Polycarboxylate Cement; C005506:polycarbonate; C482228:2-butoxyethyl acetate