A03047: Method development for the analysis of nonylphenol in different types of packaging

Study Duration: May 2004 to November 2004

Contractor: Central Science Laboratory

Some studies have identified the occurrence of a mixture of substances generally referred to as nonylphenol, in environmental biota, such as fish and bivalves, but less is known about its possible occurrence in other foods or in packaging materials. Nonylphenol may derive from the hydrolysis of trisnonylphenylphosphite that is used as an antioxidant in several polymers used as food packaging materials. Nonylphenol might also derive from this compound�s polyethoxylates which are used as emulsifiers in food packaging polymers and papers.

It is not established that nonylphenol can migrate into food from packaging. But there have been reports in the literature that indicate this might happen. The first step in investigating this was to develop a method of analysis for this mixture of substances in materials and articles, in contact with food or drink.

This project developed methodology that used either soxhlet extraction, or dissolution followed by solvent extraction depending on the material type, followed by purification via chromatography on deactivated alumina. The procedures were internally standardised by 13C-labelling. The analytes were measured and quantified by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry. The methodology was validated.

Data are on reproducibility of measurement, limits of detection, recovery, and linearity of measurement. Results of duplicate analyses are also reported.

The method is capable of detecting ppm (1 in 10⁶) or possibly ppb (1 in 10⁹) levels of nonylphenol if present in plastics, rubbers or paper. Research workers are being encouraged to try out the method and to test its robustness.

A method has been developed to determine the presence of nonylphenol in a range of different materials used to pack foods to allow an initial evaluation of food packaging materials as a potential source of nonylphenol to food.

Use of this method and others to test packaging for nonylphenol, and to see if there is migration into food, would require very cautious analysis of the results, because there may well be environmental sources of nonylphenol in the food chain.

The final report is available from the FSA Library and Information centre. To obtain a copy, please contact the Enquiry Desk, Dr Elsie Widdowson Library and Information Services, Food Standards Agency (tel: 020 7276 8181/8182 or email: library&info@foodstandards.gsi.gov.uk).

Contact: For any enquiries concerning this research project, please contact the relevant programme contact or email science@foodstandards.gsi.gov.uk