Migration of chlorinated paraffins from plastic food packaging into food simulants: Concentrations and differences in congener profiles

Human exposure to chlorinated paraffins (CPs) is of increasing concern for human health. Previous studies have focused on human CP exposure through food intake; however, the migration behaviors of CPs from food packaging into food are yet to be assessed. Herein, we used four food simulants (water, 3% acetic acid, 15% ethanol, and hexane) to investigate the migration of CPs from food packaging into food. The average migration efficiencies of short-chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs) (12.15%) were significantly higher than medium-chain chlorinated paraffins (MCCPs) (1.51%) except in hexane food simulants (ANOVA, p <0.05). Differences in congener profiles of CPs were found in food simulants, compared with in food packaging. In food simulants, C-10-congener groups were predominant in SCCP carbon homologues and Cl-6-and Cl-7-congener groups were predominant in chlorine homologues. The shorter chain and lower chlorinated congener groups of CPs had higher migration efficiencies. Moreover, the average estimated dietary intakes of SCCPs and MCCPs due to migration were 12.8 and 10.3 ng/kg.bw/day, respectively. These results revealed that migration of CPs from food packaging into food does not pose immediate risks to human health. (C) 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.