Analysis of phthalates residues in apple juices produced in Saudi Arabia

Fruit juices are popular beverages regularly consumed by both adults and children. Various brands of different fruit juices in Saudi markets are packaged in disposable plastic bottles made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Some evidence suggests that phthalates may leach from PET bottles. Few studies have analyzed the presence or assessed the risk of phthalates in fruit juice. The concentrations of dimethyl phthalate (DMP), diethyl phthalate (DEP), di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP), benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP), diethyl hexyl phthalate (DEHP), and di-n-octylphthalate (DOP) were measured in seven brands of commercially manufactured apple juice available in the Saudi market using solid-phase microextraction connected to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Nearly all targeted compounds were found in the brands of juice, with DOP being detected in all samples. Of 70 samples of apple juice, 11, 39, 2, 11 and 11 had levels of DEP, DBP, BBP, DEHP, and DOP, respectively, above their limit of quantification (LOQ). These phthalates may have either leached into the juice from the PET bottles or were contaminants during manufacturing. Benzyl benzoate (BB) was used as an internal standard, and was unexpectedly found in two brands of apple juice, which forced us to use external calibration method for quantifying the phthalates and to measure BB concentrations in these two brands. All samples were above the LOQ of 0.628 mu g/L. BB exposure via the consumption of apple juice may represent a negligible risk, but the use of BB in cosmetics, personal-care products, and as a preservative in food demands studies to assess its potential impact on health. With the absence of regulations governing the safety of contaminants in these products, the presence of phthalates in apple juice or other dietary sources could pose a health risk to consumers.