Toxicological Research

Korean Society of Toxicology & Korea Environmental Mutagen Society (한국독성학회)
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A regional approach for health risk assessment of toxicants in plastic food containers

  • Lan Binh Thi Nguyen (Institute of Environmental Science, Engineering and Management, Industrial University of Ho Chi Minh City) ;
  • Nguyen Thi Thanh Truc (Institute of Environmental Science, Engineering and Management, Industrial University of Ho Chi Minh City) ;
  • Ngoc Tran Thi Nguyen (Institute of Environmental Science, Engineering and Management, Industrial University of Ho Chi Minh City) ;
  • Dinh Khang Vu (Institute of Environmental Science, Engineering and Management, Industrial University of Ho Chi Minh City) ;
  • Byeong‑Kyu Lee (Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Ulsan)
  • Received : 2022.12.07
  • Accepted : 2023.05.24
  • Published : 2023.10.15
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Abstract

Plastic food containers are being used popularly, generating a waste of about 115 million tons in Vietnam. Such waste is causing environmental and health issues. This study conducted a field survey with 250 local people and selected 59 samples out of 135 plastic food containers collected in Go Vap district, Vietnam. Collected plastic samples identified compositions were PET 13.6%, PP 28.8%, PS 16.9%, and 40.7% undefined plastics. Collected plastic samples were classified based on the plastic type using recycling code and quantitatively analyzed with X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy method to assess concentrations of Cd, Sb, Pb, Hg, Sn, Cr, Br, Cl, and S. Most of these collected plastic samples (91.5%) were found to contain 8/9 hazardous substances and most elements contained in these plastics were below their standard thresholds. These elements in plastic samples could be divided as the result into three hazard groups: (1) high hazard group (Sb, Cl, and S); (2) medium hazard group (Cr, Br and Hg); and (3) low hazard groups (Cd, Pb and Sn). Among substances in the high hazard group, element Sb was assessed for its migration because only Sb is regulated in Vietnam in QCVN 12-1: 2011/BYT. Substances of Cl, S, Cr, Br, and Hg (group 1, 2) do not have regulations related to the method of decontamination. Thus, additional health risks need to be assessed using the USEtox model. Finally, this study proposed a screening process to assess the risk of toxicity of elements contained in plastic food containers through ISO 31000:2018.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

The author would like to thank the Industrial University of Ho Chi Minh City, the Institute for Science, Technology and Environmental Management for creating conditions to complete the study.

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