MIGRATION OF VINYL-CHLORIDE MONOMER (VCM) AND ADDITIVES INTO PVC BOTTLED DRINKING-WATER

The migration of vinyl chloride monomer (VCM) and plasticizers, especi ally adipate and phthalate esters, from polyvinyl chloride (PVC) packa ging materials into bottled drinking water was investigated. The study has shown that the concentrations of VCM in various brands of bottled -water were below 0.6 ppb, which is far below the 2 ppb maximum contam ination limit set by the United States Environmental Protection Agency for VCM in drinking water. Exposure of the bottled-water to sunlight did not result in a measurable increase in the VCM concentration level s. However, several volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds were tentatively identified by CC-MS in the bottled-water after exposure to sunlight. 2,3-Dichloro-1-propanol and dichloroacetic acid were the vo latile compounds repeatedly identified, moreover, the presence of benz ene was confirmed in some bottled-water samples. Di-n-octyl adipate an d bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate were the major semi-volatile organic com pounds identified. Migration of these compounds were found to depend o n storage time, temperature and exposure to sunlight Di-n-octyl adipat e and bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate are widely used as plasticizers in P VC packaging materials. The results of this study suggested that all m easures used to store other foodstuffs should be applied to bottled-wa ter to preserve its quality.