Migration of phthalates, bisphenols, photoinitiators, and perfluorinatedcompounds in polyethylene and polystyrene based beverage cups

Abstract

Disposable paper cups are widely used for consuming beverages, particularly hot drinks, in daily life.However, concerns regarding the migration of hazardous chemicals from these cups into beverageshave been largely overlooked. This study investigates the presence of phthalates, bisphenols,photoinitiators (PIs), and two perfluorinated compounds (PFC) in polyethylene and polystyrenebased beverage cups from Turkey. Potential migrants were quantified using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) in a total of 40 cup samples. Among the phthalatesanalyzed, di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) was the most prevalent, with concentrations reachingup to 0.95 mg/kg. Bisphenol A (BPA) was the dominant bisphenol, detected at levels between0.01 and 0.02 mg/kg. Five photoinitiators—benzophenone, 1-hydroxycyclohexyl phenyl ketone,4-methylbenzophenone, 4-hydroxybenzophenone, and ethyl 4-dimethylaminobenzoate—werefrequently identified, indicating the contribution of printing inks and surface coatings ascontamination sources. In addition, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) was detected in two samples,highlighting the potential presence of PFOA in disposable food-contact materials. The resultsunderscore the need for continued surveillance of food-contact materials and the implementationof stricter regulatory controls to reduce long-term consumer health risks.