CHEMICAL CONTAMINATION POTENTIAL OF BOTTLE MATERIALS

Bottles made of polycarbonate (PC), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), high density polyethylene (HDPE), polypropylene (PP), and polyvinylchl oride (PVC) bottles were treated with thirteen common household chemic al solutions, including eight pesticides. in order to simulate, consum er abuse of plastic bottles. Five days after immersion in the contamin ant, the plastics were detergent washed, filled with water, and stored at room temperature For another six days. The water was analyzed for residual contaminant concentrations. Sensory testing and visual contam ination was performed on the contaminated plastics. The tested chemica l substances showed to be absorbed and remigrated into the beverage si mulant at delectable levels. Contaminants with high octanol-water part ition coefficients (Kow) resulted in high residual contamination level s in the beverage simulant. The initial concentration of the active in gredient did not always influence the residual contamination level. Th e plastics which are commercially used for the production of refillabl e bottles (PET, PC) showed in general the lowest residual contaminatio n. Toxicological evaluation of the analytical results of contaminant r esidue remigration give no risk to public health concerns. However, in order to prevent negative effects on product quality such as odour an d taste, good manufacturing procedures, including visual and electroni c inspection systems, and improvement of the plastic bottles cleaning procedures are required to eliminate abused bottles.