Human intake assessment of triclosan associated with the daily use of polypropylene-made antimicrobial food packaging

• Published in: Food chemistry Vol. 451; p. 139475
• Main Authors: Klaiber, Miguel, Moreno-Gordaliza, Estefanía, Gómez-Gómez, M. Milagros, Marazuela, M. Dolores
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.09.2024
• Subjects: Antimicrobial food packaging; Bioaccessibility; Dietary Exposure - analysis; Food Contamination - analysis; Food Packaging - instrumentation; Humans; Microplastics; Migration; Polypropylenes - chemistry; Risk assessment; Triclosan; Triclosan - analysis; Triclosan - chemistry; Bioaccessibility; Microplastics; Triclosan; Antimicrobial food packaging; Migration; Risk assessment
• ISSN: 0308-8146; 1873-7072
• DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2024.139475

In this work, we aimed to evaluate human intake of triclosan (TCS) associated with real-life use of different brands of Microban™ microwave-safe food packaging. Calculations were based on: TCS migration data (under the worst-case foreseeable conditions), MPs abundance and TCS bioaccessibility from microplastics (MPs), leached from containers under microwave heating. Bioaccessibility studies were performed with in vitro digestion of MPs, followed by liquid-liquid extraction of TCS from digestive fluids and LC-QqQ-MS analysis yielding values of 46 ± 9%. The estimated weekly intake (EWI) of TCS ranged between 11 and 42 μg/kg body weight/week, with migration being the largest contribution (0.6–2.3 mg/week), compared to leaching of MPs (75–300 μg/week). These values represent a significant source of human exposure to TCS, emphasizing the need to harmonize the ban of TCS in food contact materials worldwide and improve compliance testing of food contact articles, particularly those marketed through online sales platforms. •Potential health risks from using antimicrobial food packaging containing triclosan.•Migration, microplastics and bioaccessibility of triclosan by in vitro digestion.•The bioaccessibility of triclosan from microplastics was 46 ± 9%.•Estimated weekly intake of triclosan ranged between 11 and 42 μg/kg body weight/week.•Food packaging may represent a significant source of human exposure to triclosan.