Determination of formaldehyde and acetaldehyde levels in poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) bottled mineral water using a simple and rapid analytical method

Food Chem. 2021 May 15:344:128708. doi: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2020.128708. Epub 2020 Nov 23.

Abstract

A simple and rapid analytical method was developed for the determination of formaldehyde (FA) and acetaldehyde (AA) contents in water. FA and AA were derivatized by 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine in an LC vial for 20 min at room temperature, about 25 °C, and analyzed using LC-MS/MS. The calibration curve exhibited excellent linearity for FA and AA concentrations of 2-150 ng/mL. Recovery tests using ultra-pure water and commercially available PET-bottled mineral water samples showed good trueness and precision. We determined the FA and AA contents in 105 PET-bottled mineral water samples on the Japanese market using this method. FA was detected in 61% of the samples at levels from 2.6 to 31.4 ng/mL, while AA was detected in 68% at levels from 5.3 to 143.5 ng/mL. These results demonstrate that the concentrations of FA and AA in PET-bottled mineral water on the Japanese market have not changed significantly over the last decade.

Keywords: Acetaldehyde (AA); Food contact materials; Formaldehyde (FA); Migration; Poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET).

MeSH terms

  • Acetaldehyde / analysis*
  • Acetaldehyde / isolation & purification
  • Chromatography, Liquid / methods*
  • Drinking Water / chemistry*
  • Formaldehyde / analysis*
  • Formaldehyde / isolation & purification
  • Mineral Waters / analysis*
  • Polyethylene Terephthalates / chemistry*
  • Tandem Mass Spectrometry / methods*
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Drinking Water
  • Mineral Waters
  • Polyethylene Terephthalates
  • Formaldehyde
  • Acetaldehyde