Migration studies of 3-chloro-1,2-propanediol (3-MCPD) in polyethylene extrusion-coated paperboard food packaging.

Abstract

The manufacturing process of paperboard food packaging can produce small quantities of 3-chloro-1,2-propanediol (3-MCPD or 3-monochloropropane-1,2-diol) when wet-strength resins containing epichlorohydrin are used. 3-MCPD is from the same family as 1,3-dichloro-2-propanol (1,3-DCP), which is known to cause cancer in animals. 3-MCPD has been found in acid hydrolyzed vegetable protein, Asian sauces and paperboard for food contact. In this investigation, we conducted extraction studies to measure 3-MCPD migration into food simulant solvents from the food contact side of polyethylene extrusion-coated paperboard beverage cartons and aqueous extractions of cut pieces from the entire paperboard. We demonstrate that 3-MCPD confirmed present at concentrations up to 9.9 mg kg(-1) within the paperboard matrix does not migrate through the polyethylene-coated food contact surface. The aqueous extraction of the entire paperboard and food contact side extractions with aqueous/acidic food simulants were performed using US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and European Commission (EU) migration testing protocols. We also show that no significant amount of 3-MCPD migrates through the unskived edges on the inside seam of the paperboard structure. The methodology for the aqueous and migration cell extractions using GC-MS analyses was validated with a limit of quantification (LOQ) of 0.009 mg kg(-1) and a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.005 mg kg(-1).

• Authors: Gregory V Pace, Thomas G Hartman
• Journal: Food additives & contaminants. Part A, Chemistry, analysis, control, exposure & risk assessment (Food Addit Contam Part A Chem Anal Control Expo Risk Assess) Vol. 27 Issue 6 Pg. 884-91 (Jun 2010) ISSN: 1944-0057 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 20486004 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Carcinogens
• alpha-Chlorohydrin
• Glycerol

Topics

• Animals
• Carcinogens (toxicity)
• Food Analysis
• Food Packaging (standards)
• Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry
• Glycerol (analogs & derivatives, analysis, toxicity)
• Humans
• Paper (standards)
• Rats
• Soy Foods (analysis)
• Vegetables (chemistry)
• alpha-Chlorohydrin