Migration of plasticizers and nonylphenol from polyvinyl chloride gloves

The migration of di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), di-isononyl phthalate (DINP), di(2-ethylhexyl) adipate (DEHA) and 4-nonylphenol (NP) contained in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) gloves was investigated. PVC gloves released 0.005-0.416 mug/cm(2) of DEHP, DINP, DEHA and NP into water, 20% ethanol or 4% acetic acid. In n-heptane at 25 degreesC for 60 min, PVC gloves released 1,410-2,500 mug/cm(2) of DEHP; 720 mug/cm(2) of DINP, 137-841 mug/cm(2) of DEHA and 2.72-36.4 mug/cm(2) of NP. Migration levels into rapeseed oil (60 degreesC, 30 min) were 1/2-1/4 from disposable gloves and 1/4-1/10 from thicker gloves compared with that into n-heptane (25 degreesC, 60 min). The migration amount into rapeseed oil increased as the test time and temperature increased, though the levels were high even at low temperature or for only a short time. If PVC gloves come in contact with fatty food, large amounts of DEHP, DINP, DEHA and NP might migrate into the food.