Determination of Trace Leaching Phthalate Esters in Water and Urine from Plastic Containers by Solid-Phase Microextraction and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry

Abstract

A sensitive method has been developed for determination of trace leaching phthalate esters (PAEs) in water and urine from plastic containers by direct immersion solid-phase microextraction (DI-SPME) coupled to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The limits of detection (LODs) for PAEs in water and urine had values between 0.2–8 ng L⁻¹ and 4–70 ng L⁻¹, respectively. The proposed method was successfully used for quantification of trace PAEs in water in microwavable polypropylene containers heated by microwave irradiation and in the urine of patients treated with a glucose injection using polyvinyl chloride tubing.

Keywords:

• Direct immersion solid-phase microextraction
• Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry
• Medical devices
• Microwavable polypropylene container
• Phthalate esters
• Polyvinyl chloride

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the National Science Council of the Republic of China for financially supporting this research under contract No. NSC92-2113-M-005-024.

Notes

*Not available.

*ND: not detected.

*ND: not detected.