A report, published on September 17, 2024, by the Dutch Tegengif Foundation in collaboration with the five European civil society organizations Forbrugerrådet Tænk Kemi, Arnika, Zero Waste Latvija, Zero Waste Europe, and Rezero, outlines chemicals migrating from reusable plastic drinking bottles designed for children. The study analyzed 195 reusable bottles collected in five European countries (Netherlands, Denmark, Czechia, Latvia, and Spain) in 2023.
The bottles were made from various plastics: polypropylene, polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polycarbonate, polystyrene, and unspecified polyesters. They were washed 20 times in a dishwasher under standard conditions at temperatures of 65-70 °C, and then filled with a 3% acetic acid solution to simulate hydrophilic foods with a pH < 4.5. After 24 hours and again after 10 days the chemicals that had migrated were assessed by targeted and non-targeted analyses at McGill University in Canada.
The non-targeted analysis demonstrated the presence of hundreds of chemicals. Among those were dibutylamine (CAS 111-92-2), dibutyl maleate (CAS 105-76-0), octadecanamide (CAS 124-26-5), N-Lauryldiethanolamine (CAS 1541-67-9), and tributyl citrate (CAS 77-94-1). However, the majority of detected substances could not be matched to known chemicals in available databases and remain unidentified which raises concerns about unknown exposures (FPF reported).
One of the key findings was the detection of diisobutyl phthalate (DIBP; CAS 84-69-5), a substance classified by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) as toxic to reproduction and an endocrine disruptor (FPF reported and here). DIBP was found to leach from 22 of the 39 bottle types (13 made of polypropylene and 9 of polyethylene) after dishwashing. The concentrations ranged from 3.13 to 57.16 ng/mL, with increased levels after 10 days in 3% acetic acid compared to 24 hours. Additionally, one polyethylene bottle released DIBP without any prior dishwashing. According to the report, DIBP is not authorized for use in plastic food contact materials (FCM) under EU regulation 2023/1442, but may still be present in small amounts “from the catalyst mixture used in the production of these types of plastic.”
The authors of the report emphasize that more data are needed on the chemicals that could not be identified. Further they call for greater caution when considering the reuse of plastic bottles, especially after repeated dishwashing (FPF reported). In response to these findings, the report provides several recommendations for policymakers, consumers, and manufacturers. The authors urge the European Commission to ban DIBP entirely in plastic products, emphasizing the need for stronger regulations to protect consumers and particularly children. They also recommend that consumers switch to stainless steel or glass alternatives to minimize chemical exposure and encourage manufacturers to eliminate DIBP from their production processes.
Reference
Tegengif Foundation. (September 17, 2024). “Chemical migration from reusable plastic drinking bottles for children.” (pdf)
Read more
Erase All Toxins. (September 26, 2024). “Plastic drinking bottles for children contain harmful phthalate.”
Erase All Toxins. (September 17, 2024). “Toxic pollution of children’s products needs urgent EU action, NGOs warn.”
