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Identification and quantification of plasticizers, bisphenol, and environmental toxic mineral elements residues in medicines from Tunisian markets

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Abstract

In this study, 18 plasticizer (phthalates, adipates, sebacates, and others) residues in sixteen medicines available in Tunisian pharmaceutical markets are evaluated by MSPD combined with GC-MS. In parallel, in this research, UPLC-MS/MS technique was performed to detect bisphenol A, and cadmium, lead, chromium, cobalt, nickel, mercury, selenium, and arsenic levels were determined by ICP-MS. The maximum daily ingested mass of mineral elements was calculated and compared with permissible daily exposure limits published by USP NF 2013. Our results demonstrated that the 50% of drugs contained similar concentrations of di-ethyl adipate. Di-isobutyl phthalate was found in a single sample with a high concentration (1.07mgkg-1). Di-methyladipate was also present in only one sample. Diethyl phthalate was detected in three medicines: the highest concentration (17.03mgkg-1) was found in capsules. The other plasticizers and bisphenol A levels were below the limits of quantification in the all samples. All tested products were safe for use, except two clay-originated products. Concentrations and the maximum daily ingested mass of lead and arsenic were higher than recommended limits. The use of these medicines should require more attention taking into account the serious hazards of heavy metals to human health.

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Availability of data and materials

Data and materials are available from the corresponding author upon request.

Funding

This study was supported by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research in Tunisia.

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Author notes

  1. Asma Beltifa and Sana Alibi contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research Unit: Analysis and Process Applied on the Environment UR17ES32, ISSAT Mahdia, Rejiche, Tunisia

    Asma Beltifa, Sana Alibi & Hedi Ben Mansour

  2. Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche, Odontoiatriche e delle Immagini Morfologiche e Funzionali, University of Messina, Messina, Italy

    Asma Beltifa, Vincenzo Lo Turco & Giuseppa Di Bella

Authors
  1. Asma Beltifa
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  2. Sana Alibi
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  3. Vincenzo Lo Turco
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  4. Hedi Ben Mansour
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  5. Giuseppa Di Bella
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Contributions

All authors contribute to this work:

Asma Beltifa: Collection of pharmaceuticals from Tunisian market and GC-MS analysis

Sana Alibi: Article writing and proofreading in English

Vincenzo Lo Turco: The determination of minerals in pharmaceuticals

Giuseppa Di Bella: The determination of plasticizers in pharmaceuticals

Hedi Ben Mansour: Supervising of the research strategy and the review of manuscript

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Hedi Ben Mansour.

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Competing interests

The authors declare no competing interests.

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Responsible Editor: Lotfi Aleya

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Beltifa, A., Alibi, S., Turco, V.L. et al. Identification and quantification of plasticizers, bisphenol, and environmental toxic mineral elements residues in medicines from Tunisian markets. Environ Sci Pollut Res 28, 50462–50470 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-14221-w

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-14221-w

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