Comprehensive investigation of phthalates contamination in tea from China: Insights from successive brewing experiment and nationwide perspective on health risk

Zhihong Huang and Lu Wang and Xinjie Li and Bingjun Lu and Yuli Lin and Bo Fu and Chiqun Shan and Xinxin Tang and Toh, Pei Sung and Shaoyou Lu (2025) Comprehensive investigation of phthalates contamination in tea from China: Insights from successive brewing experiment and nationwide perspective on health risk. Journal of Food Composition and Analysis, 145. pp. 1-10. ISSN 0889-1575

Text FULL TEXT.pdf Restricted to Registered users only Download (2MB) | Request a copy

Abstract

With the widespread use of plastic products, phthalates (PAEs), as common plasticizers, have become a significant contributor to environmental pollution. PAEs can migrate to tea leaf during cultivation, processing, and packaging, and can be released into the tea infusion during brewing, posing potential risks to human health. A total of 220 tea samples from four major tea-producing regions in China were collected and analyzed for the concentrations of 13 PAEs in tea leaves and tea infusions. PAEs were present in all tea samples at concentrations ranging from 504.4 to 6177.0 ng/g, with dibutyl phthalate (DBP) contributing the most. Dark tea and tea from the eastern coast and southern regions of China were the most contaminated. The brewing experiments indicated that PAEs could migrate into tea infusions, with concentrations ranging from 0 to 77.4 ng/mL, showing the highest transfer rates during the second and third brews. The health risk assessment results revealed that PAEs posed low noncarcinogenic and carcinogenic risks through tea consumption, but risk levels were significantly higher in children than in adults. This indicates the necessity for giving children more attention. We suggest stricter environmental protection measures during tea cultivation, processing, and packaging to safeguard public health.

Item Type:	Article
Keyword:	Phthalates, Tea leaf, Transfer, Tea infusion, Risk assessment
Subjects:	Q Science > QD Chemistry > QD1-999 Chemistry > QD241-441 Organic chemistry T Technology > TX Home economics > TX1-1110 Home economics > TX341-641 Nutrition. Foods and food supply
Department:	FACULTY > Faculty of Business, Economics and Accounting
Depositing User:	SITI AZIZAH BINTI IDRIS -
Date Deposited:	15 Jul 2025 16:07
Last Modified:	15 Jul 2025 16:07
URI:	https://eprints.ums.edu.my/id/eprint/44479

Actions (login required)

View Item