Migration of Plasticizers from Polyethylene Terephthalate and Low-Density Polyethylene Casing into Bottled Water: A Case Study From India

Mineral bottled water packed in three polymers viz., virgin polyethylene terephthalate (PET), recycled PET, and low-density polyethylene (LDPE) were investigated for the occurrence, migration, and health risk of phthalic acid esters (PAEs) at 25 degrees C, 35 degrees C, and 45 degrees C. The average concentration of six USEPA priority PAEs in refrigerated water samples was highest in recycled PET> LDPE > virgin PET. The highest leaching was seen at 45 degrees C after 2 days for LDPE water packets with n-ary sumation (6)PAEs amounting to 64,300 ng/L. Similarly, for recycled PET, the highest migration was seen at 45 degrees C after seven days (3,800 mu g/L). Bis 2-ethyl hexyl phthalate (DEHP) and di-n-butyl phthalate (DnBP) were the predominant plasticizers from PET bottles and LDPE water packets, respectively. Predicted concentration after three weeks based on best fit obtained through the polynomial model for PET bottles was seen higher than the recommended limit suggested by USEPA (6 mu g/L) and WHO (8 mu g/L).