Validation Study on Headspace-GC Analytical Method for Residual Volatile Substances in Food Contact Polystyrene and Its Application for Surveillance (1998–2014)

Abstract

A headspace-GC analysis method for the determination of residual volatile substances (styrene, toluene, ethylbenzene, isopropylbenzene and propylbenzene) in food contact polystyrene (PS) was evaluated. Ten PS products were analyzed by this headspace-GC method and the Japanese official method, and the values obtained were almost equal. The performance of the method was evaluated, and the trueness, repeatability and reproducibility were 100.4–102.8%, 3.7–6.3% and 6.0–11.1%, respectively. The values of the performance parameters of the headspace-GC method fulfilled the requirements, and this method was confirmed to be extremely precise. Moreover, contamination of the GC equipment was minimized. The residual volatile substances in 58 PS products were surveyed with this method. All products met the specifications defined in the Japanese Food Sanitation Law, and no relationship was found between volatile substances and the sampling year or country of origin.