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Preliminary toxicological assessment of phthalate esters from drinking water consumed in Portugal

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Abstract

This paper reports, for the first time, the concentrations of selected phthalates in drinking water consumed in Portugal. The use of bottled water in Portugal has increased in recent years. The main material for bottles is polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Its plasticizer components can contaminate water by leaching, and several scientific studies have evidenced potential health risks of phthalates to humans of all ages. With water being one of the most essential elements to human health and because it is consumed by ingestion, the evaluation of drinking water quality, with respect to phthalate contents, is important. This study tested seven commercial brands of bottled water consumed in Portugal, six PET and one glass (the most consumed) bottled water. Furthermore, tap water from Lisbon and three small neighbor cities was analyzed. Phthalates (di-n-butyl phthalate ester (DnBP), bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate ester (DEHP), and di-i-butyl phthalate ester (DIBP)) in water samples were quantified (PET and glass) by means of direct immersion solid-phase microextraction and ionic liquid gas chromatography associated with flame ionization detection or mass spectrometry due to their high boiling points and water solubility. The method utilized in this study showed a linear range for target phthalates between 0.02 and 6.5 μg L−1, good precision and low limits of detection that were between 0.01 and 0.06 μg L−1, and quantitation between 0.04 and 0.19 μg L−1. Only three phthalates were detected in Portuguese drinking waters: dibutyl (DnBP), diisobutyl (DIBP), and di(ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP). Concentrations ranged between 0.06 and 6.5 μg L−1 for DnBP, between 0.02 and 0.16 μg L−1 for DEHP, and between 0.1 and 1.89 μg L−1 for DIBP. The concentration of DEHP was found to be up to five times higher in PET than in glass bottled water. Surprisingly, all the three phthalates were detected in glass bottled water with the amount of DnBP being higher (6.5 μg L−1) than in PET bottled water. These concentrations do not represent direct risk to human health. Regarding potable tap water, only DIBP and DEHP were detected. Two of the cities showed concentration of all three phthalates in their water below the limits of detection of the method. All the samples showed phthalate concentrations below 6 μg L−1, the maximum admissible concentration in water established by the US Environmental Protection Agency. The concentrations measured in Portuguese bottled waters do not represent any risk for adult's health.

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Notes

  1. NOAEL denotes the level of exposure of an organism, found by experiment or observation, at which there is no biologically or statistically significant.

  2. LOAEL is the lowest concentration or amount of a substance, found by experiment or observation, which causes an adverse alteration of morphology, functional capacity, growth, development, or life span.

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Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully thank Sigma-Aldrich/Supelco (Silep program). The authors also acknowledge Dr. Pedro Gutiérrez Rivas for his support. Inês Nunes and José Santana acknowledge Portuguese Science and Technology Foundation (FCT) for their PhD grants. Clara Giraudi acknowledges her grant from Erasmus interchanging program.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Química, CQFB-Requimte, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Quinta da Torre, Caparica, 2825-114, Lisbon, Portugal

    José Santana, Clara Giraudi, Sara Pires, Inês Nunes & Elvira M. Gaspar

  2. Faculty of Mathematical, Physical and Natural Sciences, University of Piemonte Orientale “Amadeo Avogadro”, Allesandria, Piemonte, Italy

    Clara Giraudi, Emílio Marengo & Elisa Robotti

Authors
  1. José Santana
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  2. Clara Giraudi
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  3. Emílio Marengo
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  4. Elisa Robotti
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  5. Sara Pires
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  6. Inês Nunes
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  7. Elvira M. Gaspar
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Elvira M. Gaspar.

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Responsible editor: Markus Hecker

Part of this work was done under Erasmus students interchange program involving Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Portugal and University of Piemonte Orientale “Amadeo Avogadro, Italy.”

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Santana, J., Giraudi, C., Marengo, E. et al. Preliminary toxicological assessment of phthalate esters from drinking water consumed in Portugal. Environ Sci Pollut Res 21, 1380–1390 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-013-2020-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-013-2020-3

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