| Abstract [eng] |
In order to investigate how additives modify food contact polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) packaging polymers and additive migration to food simulants, food contact materials made of PE, PP and their composites were tested. To carry out such investigation, analytical methods such as gravimetry (GA), liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), thermal desorption gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (TD-GC/MS), atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS) and, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) were developed, optimized and validated. Degradation of PE, PP and composite plastics, overall and specific migration testing were performed. As food packaging is a complex chemical material, the challenge is determining what that complex mixture is composed of, and what chemicals are the possible migrants. Carrying out migration experiments and identifying potential migrants is probably the only way to gain knowledge and improve their detection, make decisions in manufacturing processes, and assess potential health risks related to the additives and additive degradation product migration to the food media. Unlike most of the published articles in scientific society, methods described in this work can easily be applied to routine laboratories. The availability of such obtainable testing methods to routine testing laboratories is very important in order to assure the safety of consumers, since those food contact materials are controlled by the routine laboratories. The results obtained showed that the overall migration from PP packages to food simulants is higher than from PE. Also, specific migration experiments confirmed that the migration occurs, but is not exceeding the limits of different regulations. Even though there were not so many samples tested that exceeded limits set by different regulations (considered safe for consumers), it must be noted how many different migrants migrate to food, for which the consequences for human health are yet not clear. |
