CONTAMINATION BY PHTHALATES AND BISPHENOL A IN WATER PACKAGED IN POLYETHYLENE FILM IN GHANA

The Ghana Living Standard Survey reports show increased consumption of water packaged in polyethylene film known as sachet water. These plastic films used in packaging the water contain compounds such as Bisphenol A and Phthalate. These are added during the manufacturing process to enhance certain characteristics of the plastics but can migrate from the water packaging material into the contained water. In this regard, these migrating compounds have raised many concerns due to their suspected endocrine disruption effects in humans. The study was to determine Di-Methyl phthalate, Di-Ethyl phthalate, Di-Butyl phthalate, Benzyl n-butyl phthalate, Di (2-ethyl hexyl) phthalate and Bisphenol A and identify their migration trends. Five different brands of sachet water were randomly selected and stored at temperatures of 5˚C, 27˚C, and 50˚C for 28 days and their migration trends were determined using Gas Chromatography coupled with Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) after the extraction process. The levels of phthalates in sachet water increased with increasing temperatures and storage period with Di (2-ethyl hexyl) phthalate being highest (165.34 ppb) exceeding the World Health Organization guideline of 8 ppb (µg/L). Their levels in water could be embryotoxic and teratogenic to humans via consumption. Bisphenol A was also detected at levels within the range of 0.61 - 57.22 ppb, which was non toxic. Therefore, there should be a legislation to regulate the type and amount of phthalate and Bisphenol A used in sachet polyethylene film. Regulatory bodies should thus, must educate sachet water merchants on appropriate storage temperatures and period.