Determination of phthalates in toys and childcare products marketed in Brazil: evaluation of the migration to saliva and estimate of intake

• Grant number: 14/24042-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: July 01, 2015
• End date: June 30, 2017
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Pharmacy - Toxicological Analysis
• Agreement: Coordination of Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES)
• Principal Investigator: Fernando Barbosa Júnior
• Grantee: Juliana Maria Oliveira Souza
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto (FCFRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Endocrine disrupters are classified in the group of emerging contaminants and can interfere with the endocrine and hormone system affecting the health, growth and reproduction of humans and animals. Natural and synthetic compounds, such as phthalates, can cause these effects. Phthalates are used as plasticizers to promote flexibility and durability of plastics such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Therefore, these compounds can be found in numerous sources of exposure, especially children's toys and childcare products (any product intended to facilitate sleep, relaxation, hygiene, and the feeding of children).Additionally, it is important to consider the age that occurs exposure to phthalates, highlighting the childhood and pregnancy that present greater vulnerability to the harmful effects of these compounds. In Brazil, information related to exposure to phthalates and to the quality control of the PVC toys and childcare products are still scarce. Then, this fact has encouraged the realization of this research project.In this sense, this study aims to evaluate the presence of phthalates in samples of PVC toys and childcare products with national and imported origin, and sold in Brazil, as well as the determination of the phthalates migration from samples to artificial saliva, and an estimated intake of these compounds considering the maximum amount extracted in saliva and a body weight of 8 kg. For this proposal, three steps will be evaluated: i) Determination of phthalates in samples of PVC toys and childcare products using LC-ESI-MS/MS; II) Determination of phthalates migration from samples to artificial saliva; III) Calculating the estimated intake of phthalates based on the phthalates concentrations in artificial saliva.Finally, it is expected that the results of this study can contribute to the knowledge of the exposure risk of children to compounds classified as endocrine disrupters and encourage Brazil in performing the quality control of phthalates in PVC toys and childcare products. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

OLIVEIRA SOUZA, JULIANA MARIA; OLIVEIRA SOUZA, MARILIA CRISTINA; ALVES ROCHA, BRUNO; NADAL, MARTI; LUIS DOMINGO, JOSE; BARBOSA JR, FERNANDO. Levels of phthalates and bisphenol in toys from Brazilian markets: Migration rate into children's saliva and daily exposure. Science of The Total Environment, v. 828, p. 8-pg., 2022-03-15. (18/24069-3, 15/19665-8, 14/24042-7, 19/07161-6)