GC-MS Screening for the Identification of Potential Migrants Present in Polymeric Coatings of Food Cans

Abstract

The coatings used in cans can release complex chemical mixtures into foodstuffs. Therefore, it is important to develop analytical methods for the identification of these potential migrant compounds in packaged food to guarantee the compliance with European food packaging legislation and ensure consumer safety. In the present work, the type of coating in a total of twelve cans collected in Santiago de Compostela (Spain) were evaluated using an ATR (attenuated total reflectance)-FTIR spectrometer. These samples were analysed after extraction with acetonitrile in order to identify potential migrants through a screening method by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS). A total of forty-seven volatile and semi-volatile compounds were identified in these samples, including plasticizers, photoinitiators, antioxidants, lubricants, etc. Then, in a second step, a targeted analysis was carried out for the simultaneous determination of 13 compounds, including bisphenols (BPA, BPB, BPC, BPE, BPF, BPG) and BADGEs (BADGE, BADGE.H 2 O, BADGE.2H 2 O, BADGE.HCl, BADGE.2HCl, BADGE.H 2 O.HCl, cyclo-di-BADGE) by liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) with atmospheric pressure chemical ionisation (APCI) source. Among all the bisphenols analysed, only the bisphenol A was detected in four samples; while cyclo-di-BADGE was the predominant compound detected in all the samples analysed.

Effects of maternal bisphenol A diglycidyl ether exposure during gestation and lactation on behavior and brain development of the offspring

“…BPA and its synthesis product BADGE are used for inner coating of canned food, beverage containers, baby bottles and dental composites, and their food contamination is anxious about health hazard (Cabado et al, 2008;Gorecki et al, 2017;Lestido Cardama et al, 2019;Mertens et al, 2016). There are similarities between the two compounds in not only chemical structure but also endocrine disrupting effects and toxicokinetics.…”

Safety of Plastic Food Packaging: The Challenges about Non-Intentionally Added Substances (NIAS) Discovery, Identification and Risk Assessment

“…Table 4 listed scientific publications that determined breakdown products in different types of plastic food packaging. Most of the studies reported degradation products as NIAS, and most of the reported NIAS are degradation products from the antioxidants Irganox 1010 and Irgafos 168 [ 59 , 70 , 72 , 73 , 74 , 75 , 76 , 77 , 78 ].…”

“…Usually, NIAS’s identification requires susceptible advanced analytical techniques and databases and software tools [ 5 , 9 ]. The general workflow for the analysis of FCMs involves the data acquisition after the selection of one or a combination of analytical techniques, such as gas chromatography (GC) for volatile and semi-volatile compounds with low polarity [ 78 , 95 , 123 , 124 , 125 ] and liquid chromatography (LC) for thermally unstable and non-volatile compounds; both coupled with mass spectrometry detectors (MS) [ 28 , 96 , 126 ].…”

“…GC-MS is the most frequently used technique for volatile, and semi-volatile knew organic compounds since the commercially available mass spectra library (e.g., NIST library) could help identify the compounds [ 32 , 78 , 80 , 123 ]. The libraries contain the MS spectra obtained by electronic impact and a quadrupole mass analyzer.…”

“…Screening analysis can be conducted for unpredicted NIAS and detects predicted NIAS and IAS [ 9 ]. In this approach, an FCM or a starting substance(s) is extracted with one or more simulant/extraction solvents followed by analysis using several analytical methods to provide maximum coverage for all substances possible, e.g., headspace/solid-phase microextraction (SPME) [ 34 ], gas chromatography flame ionization detection (GC-FID) or gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to detect volatile substances [ 77 , 91 ]; GC-FID or GC-MS for semi-volatile substances [ 77 , 129 ]; liquid chromatography ultraviolet detection (LC-UV) or LC high-resolution MS for non-volatile and polar compounds [ 25 , 28 , 60 , 78 ]; inductively coupled plasma (ICP-MS) for trace elements [ 99 ]; and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) for general screening [ 63 , 118 ]. High-resolution GC-MS may also be useful for the analysis of NIAS [ 7 ].…”