NAPHTHALENE CONTAMINATION OF STERILIZED MILK DRINKS CONTAINED IN LOW-DENSITY POLYETHYLENE BOTTLES .2. EFFECT OF NAPHTHALENE VAPOR IN AIR

A survey on naphthalene vapour in air was conducted, revealing that th e ambient atmosphere contained concentrations of naphthalene in the ra nge of 0.005-0.100 mg m(-3). The level of naphthalene vapour in air in creased to 0.35 and 4.00 mg m(-3) in places exposed to lacquer paint a nd naphthalene-based moth-repellent, respectively. The effect of napht halene vapour in air on milk drinks contained in low-density polyethyl ene (LDPE) bottles was assessed. A mathematical model was suggested to describe the migration of naphthalene from the atmosphere into milk. The model was proved to be valid for milk drinks exposed to naphthalen e-based moth-repellent during storage. Moreover, the extent of migrati on was found to increase with the fat content of foods, which might be ascribed to an increase in diffusion, in addition to the kinetic fact or, that affects naphthalene migration.