Organophosphate esters (OPEs) are ubiquitous contaminants in the environment, but little is known about their occurrence in foodstuffs, an important source of human exposure. In this study, 15 OPEs were measured in foodstuffs and food-packing materials collected from local markets in Albany, New York, United States, for the first time. Among the foodstuffs analyzed, median concentrations of ∑OPEs (sum of 15 OPEs) in meat (6.76 ng/g wet weight; ww) and fish/seafood (7.11 ng/g ww) were higher than those in other food categories. ∑OPEs were found in food packaging at a median concentration of 132 ng/g. The estimated daily dietary intakes (EDIs) of OPE were of 37.9, 135, 56.6, 32.2, and 25.1 ng/kg body weight (bw)/day for infants, toddlers, children, teenagers, and adults, respectively. Meat was a major source (47%) of dietary OPEs exposure in adults, whereas dairy products accounted for 52% of OPE exposures in toddlers.
Keywords: dietary exposure; foodstuffs; occurrence; organophosphate esters.