Phthalates in our food

Figures & data

Figure 1. Structural formulas of nine phthalate esters sampled in food.¹

Table 1. Detection frequencies of phthalates in sampled food

Phthalate	Abbreviation	Percent detection frequency
Di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate	DEHP	74
Diethyl phthalate	DEP	57
Di-iso-butyl phthalate	DiBP	55
Butyl benzyl phthalate	BBzP	54
Dimethyl phthalate	DMP	37
Di-n-butyl phthalate	DBP	31
Di-n-hexyl phthalate	DnHP	15
Di-n-octyl phthalate	DnOP	12
Dicyclohexyl phthalate	DCHP	6

Table 2. Food group consumption rate and sample content

Food Group	Consumption (g/kg-day)	Source	Container type
Beverages	13	tea, juice, sports drinks	plastic
Dairy	3.5	milk, pudding, cheese, butter, yogurt	plastic
Fish	0.23	salmon, tuna, shrimp, clams, sardines	plastic and paper wrap
Beef	0.73	ground beef, beef	foam tray with plastic wrap
Pork	0.36	sausage, pork, bacon, ham	plastic and paper wrap
Poultry	0.71	ground turkey and chicken, breast, bacon, drumsticks	plastic and paper wrap
Fruits/ vegetables	3.4	soups, canned fruits, canned tomato sauce	plastic and metal cans
Grain	2.2	bread, cake mix, cereals, rice, cookies	plastic and paper wrap

Table 3. Phthalate concentrations in food groups (ng/g wet weight)

	DEHP	DBP	BBzP	DiBP
Beverages	3.9	0.7	0.1	0.3
Dairy	126.5	85	3.6	1.6
Fish	31.7	11	1.6	1
Beef	1.9	0.7	0.6	0.1
Pork	44.5	1.5	ND	2
Poultry	18.6	0.7	0.7	0.1

Schecter A, Lorber M, Guo Y, Wu Q, Yun SH, Kannan K, et al. Phthalate concentrations and dietary exposure from food purchased in New York State. Environ Health Perspect 2013; 121:473 - 94, e1-4; PMID: 23461894

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