Phthalates and bisphenol-A residues in water samples: an innovative analytical approach

Phthalates (PAEs), a family of organic chemicals synthesized by double esterification of 1,2-benzenecarboxylic acid, and Bisphenol-A (BPA) are molecules widely used in packaging due to their malleability and workability of plastic polymers. Their large use during these last decades causes high presence in the environment. PAEs, which are not chemically bound to the polymer, show the tendency to migrate or dissociate, especially when they are in contact with lipophilic substances and/or in case of mechanical or thermal stress. The consequence is a contamination of water surface as well as food products, e.g., food products can be contaminated during packaging and storage by migration from polymers. PAE exposure can result from direct contact or through the transfer of such compounds from one product to another, as occurs for food or bottle packaging, whereas the main exposure routes can be ingestion, inhalation, intravenous and dermal. The food contamination by PAEs and/or BPA can also occur during the production process, handling, transport, packaging and preparation, even at domestic level. This paper would like to propose a novel, rapid and easy analytical approach for determining PAEs and BPA in water samples, specifically water surface. The determination is performed by GC-FID, common equipment present in every routinely chemical laboratory. The extraction is performed by means of Dispersed Liquid Liquid MicroExtraction (DLLME) method. All the analytical parameters are investigated and discussed. The method is really sensitive showing Limit of Detection (LOD) between 2 and 19 pg and Limit of Quantification (LOQ) between 4 and 48 pg. Furthermore, the method is reproducible with a variability of less than 9.7% and an R2> 0.9718 in a linear dynamic range between 0.5 and 500 ppm.