Abstract: A capillary gas chromatographic method with flame ionization detector (GC-FID) for the detection of five phthalates dimethyl phthalate (DMP), di-ethyl phthalate (DEP), di-butyl phthalate (DBP), di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) and dioctyl phthalate (DnOP) in 14 kinds of foods was developed. The samples were extracted with hexane by ultrasonically assisted procedure. The extracts were cleaned up with SPE and determined by GC. Retention time of the peaks was applied for qualitative analysis, and external standard method was used for quantitative analysis. Results showed that the recoveries of the five phthalates are between 72.3% and 101.5% with relative standard deviations of 2.69%～5.84%. Consequently, this method is accurate and credible. In Europe, the total tolerable daily intake (TTDI) of total phthalate esters per person has been estimated to be 0.3 mg/kg body weight. The contents of about 69% of the phthalates detected in foods are more than 0.3 mg/kg, over the Europe standard. This indicates that there is quite high concentration of the phthalates migrating into foods.

Key words: phthalates, determine, GC