Migration of Plasticizers and Nonylphenol from Polyvinyl Chloride Gloves

Abstract

The migration of di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), di-isononyl phthalate (DINP), di(2-ethylhexyl) adipate (DEHA) and 4-nonylphenol (NP) contained in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) gloves was investigated. PVC gloves released 0.005-0.416 μg/cm² of DEHP, DINP, DEHA and NP into water, 20% ethanol or 4% acetic acid. In n-heptane at 25°C for 60 min, PVC gloves released 1,410-2,500 μg/cm² of DEHP, 720 μg/cm² of DINP, 137-841 μg/cm² of DEHA and 2.72-36.4 μg/cm² of NP. Migration levels into rapeseed oil (60°C, 30 min) were 1/2-1/4 from disposable gloves and 1/4-1/10 from thicker gloves compared with that into n-heptane (25°C, 60 min). The migration amount into rapeseed oil increased as the test time and temperature increased, though the levels were high even at low temperature or for only a short time. If PVC gloves come in contact with fatty food, large amounts of DEHP, DINP, DEHA and NP might migrate into the food.