Phthalate, adipate and sebacate residues by HRGC-MS in olive oils from Sicily and Molise (Italy)

Phthalate, adipate and sebacate esters contamination in olive oils produced in Sicily in the crop years 2006-2009 and in Molise in the crop years 2007-2008 was studied by HRGC-MS. The statistical elaboration of plasticizer data was performed to compare the contamination of the Sicilian samples with those of the samples produced in Molise in the same crop years and to compare the contamination of the Sicilian samples produced in three consecutive crop years. In all analyzed samples DEA, DiHP, DOP, and DENS residues were always less than their LOQ. Furthermore in Sicilian olive oils were not found residues of DBA and DiDP, while DiBP. BBP and DEHP were found to be the phthalates most abundants. In Molise olive oils there were not residues of DiBA, DMP and DEP. while DiNP and DiDP are the most abundants. Among all plasticizers found only DEHP was observed stronger that its proposed limit by BNN (3 mg/kg) in 9.1% of Molise olive oils and in 27.27% of Sicilian samples of the year 2007-2008. Finally, plasticizer values found in this study were compared with those obtained earlier in olive oils produced in Sicily in the crop years 2002-2003. The results showed that the contamination has not decreased. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.