Pacifiers Testing

Gamil, Mirna, et al. Microchemical Journal 181 (2022): 107841.

A green, sensitive, and rapid RP-HPLC-UV method was developed and validated for the bioanalytical determination and quantification of four photoinitiators: 4-Hydroxyacetophenone, Benzophenone, Benzoin, and Ethyl-4-dimethylaminobenzoate, in saliva from contact with baby bibs, teethers, and pacifiers.

The analysis was conducted using a C¹⁸ column as the stationary phase, with acetonitrile and water as the mobile phase in isocratic mode. A diode-array detector was employed. The method achieved a lower limit of quantification (LLOQ) of 10.00 ng/mL, demonstrating excellent accuracy and precision.

Vicente-Martínez, Yesica, Manuel Caravaca, and Antonio Soto-Meca. Pharmaceuticals 13.10 (2020): 301.

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a chemical compound commonly used in the production of plastics and resins. Due to its potential health risks even at low concentrations, there is significant scientific interest in developing methods for quantifying trace amounts of BPA in various samples. BPA in toys, especially those manipulated by children, raises additional concerns since it can enter the body when the toys are placed in the mouth. This study presents a novel method for the rapid and straightforward quantification of trace levels of BPA in toys and pacifiers, in compliance with current regulatory standards.

The detection of very low levels of BPA was achieved using ionic liquid dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction (IL-DLLME), followed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The ionic liquid (IL) 1-octyl-3-methylimidazolium bis((trifluoromethane)sulfonyl)imide ([C₈MIm][NTf₂]) was formed in situ by mixing 1-octyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([C₈MIm]Cl) and lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide ([NTf₂]Li) aqueous solutions, creating a dispersion of microdrops that facilitated the complete extraction of BPA into the IL from aqueous samples. After centrifugation, BPA concentration in the sedimented phase was determined using HPLC.

Optimal conditions for the microextraction and determination of BPA were established. Total extraction was achieved at pH 4, with sample heating at 30°C for 5 minutes, 100 µL of IL precursor, and centrifugation at 3000 rpm for 10 minutes. The procedure resulted in an enrichment factor (EF) of 299 and a detection limit (LOD) of 0.19 µg/L. The relative standard deviation for ten replications at the 0.5 µg/L level was 5.2%. Recovery studies showed a mean BPA recovery rate of 99%.

Feng, Di, et al. Science of The Total Environment 829 (2022): 154449.

The study examined the migration and potential childhood exposure to methylsiloxanes (MSs) in 32 silicone infant bottle nipples available on the market. A total of 30 MSs, belonging to two families—11 linear methylsiloxanes (LMSs, L4-L14) and 19 cyclic methylsiloxanes (CMSs, D4-D22)—were identified using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS), supported by standards, retention index, and carbon number rules.

In the 32 bottle nipples tested, MSs with a molecular weight of less than 1000 Da, particularly CMSs, were the most prevalent. Migration tests were conducted to assess the transfer of MSs from the nipples to artificial saliva and reconstituted powdered formula. Using an orthogonal test design combined with QuEChERS and GC/MS, MSs were detected in formula. The median migration level of ΣMSs (MW < 1000 Da) in formula was found to be 950.9 ng/mL, significantly higher than the 98.1 ng/mL observed in artificial saliva.

For children aged 3–36 months, following product instructions, the estimated daily oral exposure to ΣMSs (MW < 1000 Da) from formula feeding ranged between 52 and 146 μg/kg bw-day. This exposure was found to be two to five orders of magnitude higher than other potential exposure pathways. Consequently, oral intake, especially via formula, appears to be the primary route of MSs exposure in children.