Evaluation of the Effects of Storage Conditions and Duration on the Levels of Phthalate Esters in Brands of Plastic Bottled Water Produced in Adamawa State, Nigeria
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.54536/ajcp.v5i1.7529Keywords:
DBP, DEHP, PET Bottles, Phthalate Esters, Storage ConditionsAbstract
Phthalate acid esters (PAEs) are endocrine-disrupting plasticizers that migrate from polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles into drinking water, particularly under heat and ultraviolet (UV) exposure. This study quantified six PAEs; DMP, DEP, DBP, BBP, DEHP, and DNOP in two Adamawa-Nigerian bottled water brands (Gauni and Zaya) stored under refrigeration (~4°C), room temperature (~25–35°C), and direct sunlight (>40°C + UV) for four weeks. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis revealed a consistent contamination gradient (refrigeration < room temperature < sunlight). Even under refrigeration, DEHP reached 0.30±0.01 mg/L in Gauni and 0.18±0.01 mg/L in Zaya, exceeding the World Health Organization (WHO) guideline of 0.008 mg/L. At room temperature, DEHP rose to 0.74±0.02 mg/L in Gauni, while DBP reached 0.38±0.01 mg/L. Under direct sunlight, extreme levels were observed. DBP peaked at 3.79±0.10 mg/L in Gauni and 1.61±0.01 mg/L in Zaya, while DEHP reached 3.66±0.02 mg/L in Zaya and 1.24±0.01 mg/L in Gauni. Control samples confirmed negligible baseline contamination (≤0.02 mg/L). DEHP and DBP were the dominant migrating compounds across all conditions. These findings highlight severe public health risks, ranking among the highest PAE levels reported globally, and underscore the urgent need for regulatory intervention, mandatory storage-condition labelling, and consumer education in Nigeria and other tropical regions
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