ABSTRACT
Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is the plastic packaging material most widely used to produce bottles intended for contact with food and beverages. However, PET is not inert, and therefore, some chemical compounds present in PET could migrate to food or beverages in contact, leading to safety issues. To evaluate the safety of PET samples, the identification of potential migrants is required. In this work, eight PET samples obtained from the Ecuadorian market at different phases of processing were studied using a well-known methodology based on a solvent extraction followed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis and overall migration test. Several chemical compounds were identified and categorized as lubricants (carboxylic acids with chain length of C12 to C18), plasticizers (triethyl phosphate, diethyl phthalate), thermal degradation products (p-xylene, benzaldehyde, benzoic acid), antioxidant degradation products (from Irgafos 168 and Irganox), and recycling indicator compounds (limonene, benzophenone, alkanes, and aldehydes). Additionally, overall migration experiments were performed in PET bottles, resulting in values lower than the overall migration limit (10 mg/dm2); however, the presence of some compounds identified in the samples could be related to contamination during manufacturing or to the use of recycled PET-contaminated flakes. In this context, the results obtained in this study could be of great significance to the safety evaluation of PET samples in Ecuador and would allow analyzing the PET recycling processes and avoiding contamination by PET flakes from nonfood containers.
ABSTRACT
La industria de los cosméticos es un sector económico pujante y en continuo desarrollo a nivel mundial, en sus procesos de trabajo utiliza gran cantidad de sustancias químicas, especialmente nanopartículas, que pueden dañar la salud de los trabajadores, los usuarios y el medio ambiente. Se realizó el estudio de un centro laboral dedicado a la fabricación y venta de cosméticos localizado en la Ciudad de México, el principal objetivo fue realizar la evaluación integral del proceso de trabajo y el medio ambiente laboral, y proponer una serie de recomendaciones que contribuyan a mejorar la salud y seguridad en el trabajo. Para recoger y procesar los datos básicos de la empresa, reconstruir los procesos de trabajo, obtener los Porcentajes de Eficacia (PE) y estructurar un programa de acciones preventivas y correctivas, se utilizó la metodología llamada Modelo PROVERIFICA. Se encontró que en la empresa laboran 317 trabajadores y los principales riesgos a que están expuestos son: ruido, sustancias químicas, ventilación deficiente, calor y accidentes; y exigencias tales como posiciones incómodas, esfuerzo físico y ritmo de trabajo intensos. En la calificación del medio ambiente laboral, los peores resultados fueron debidos a la nula Participación de los Niveles Directivos (PE=56.3) y el relativo abandono de los Servicios de Salud de los Trabajadores (PE=71.4) y de la Seguridad e Higiene (PE=75.0). En otros términos, es una firma donde la gerencia ha relegado la salud en el trabajo, a pesar de los peligros que entrañan las instalaciones y las sustancias que ahí se utilizan(AU)
The cosmetics industry is in a state of vigorous growth and development around the world. Many of the processes in this industry use a large amount of chemicals, particularly nanoparticles, which can harm the health of workers, consumers and the environment. A study was conducted at a workplace located in Mexico City where cosmetics are manufactured and sold. The main objective was to carry out a comprehensive assessment of the work process and working environment, and propose a series of recommendations to help improve health and safety at work. The PROVERIFICA Model (Verification, Diagnosis, and Monitoring Occupational Health in Companies) was used to collect and process basic information about the company, to reconstruct the work processes, to obtain efficiency percentages (EP) and to structure a program of preventive and corrective actions. The company has 317 workers, and the main risks they are exposed to include noise, chemicals, poor ventilation, heat and accidents; and workplace demands such as stressful positions, strenuous physical effort andan intense pace of work. The worst problems were found to be due to lack of participation by management (EP = 56.3) and relative neglect of workers by both employee health (EP = 71.4) and occupational safety and health services (EP = 75.0). In other words, this is a company where management has marginalized the issue of workplace health, despite the dangers inherent in the facilities and substances that are used in this workplace(AU)
