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Total Fluorine Measurements in Food Packaging: How Do Current Methods Perform?

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Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) represent a class of more than 4000 compounds. Their large number and structural diversity pose a considerable challenge to analytical chemists. Measurement of total fluorine in environmental samples and consumer products is therefore critical for rapidly screening for PFASs and for assessing the fraction of unexplained fluorine(i.e., fluorine mass balance). Here we compare three emerging analytical techniques for total fluorine determination: combustion ion chromatography (CIC), particle-induced Î-ray emission spectroscopy (PIGE), and instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA). Application of each method to a certified reference material (CRM), spiked filters, and representative food packaging samples revealed good accuracy and precision. INAA and PIGE had the advantage of being nondestructive, while CIC displayed the lowest detection limits. Inconsistencies between the methods arose due to the high aluminum content in the CRM, which precluded its analysis by INAA, and sample heterogeneity (i.e., coating on the surface of the material), which resulted in higher values from the surface measurement technique PIGE compared to the values from the bulk volume techniques INAA and CIC. Comparing CIC-based extractable organic fluorine to target PFAS measurements of food packaging samples by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry revealed large amounts of unidentified organic fluorine not captured by compound-specific analysis.
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Total Fluorine Measurements in Food Packaging: How Do Current
Methods Perform?
Lara Schultes,*
,
Graham F. Peaslee,
John D. Brockman,
§
Ashabari Majumdar,
Sean R. McGuinness,
John T. Wilkinson,
Oskar Sandblom,
Ruth A. Ngwenyama,
§
and Jonathan P. Benskin
Department of Environmental Science and Analytical Chemistry (ACES), Stockholm University, Svante Arrhenius väg 8, SE-10691
Stockholm, Sweden
Department of Physics, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, United States
§
Department of Chemistry, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri 65211, United States
*
SSupporting Information
ABSTRACT: Per- and polyuoroalkyl substances (PFASs) represent a class of
more than 4000 compounds. Their large number and structural diversity pose a
considerable challenge to analytical chemists. Measurement of total uorine in
environmental samples and consumer products is therefore critical for rapidly
screening for PFASs and for assessing the fraction of unexplained uorine(i.e.,
uorine mass balance). Here we compare three emerging analytical techniques
for total uorine determination: combustion ion chromatography (CIC),
particle-induced γ-ray emission spectroscopy (PIGE), and instrumental
neutron activation analysis (INAA). Application of each method to a certied
reference material (CRM), spiked lters, and representative food packaging
samples revealed good accuracy and precision. INAA and PIGE had the
advantage of being nondestructive, while CIC displayed the lowest detection
limits. Inconsistencies between the methods arose due to the high aluminum content in the CRM, which precluded its analysis
by INAA, and sample heterogeneity (i.e., coating on the surface of the material), which resulted in higher values from the
surface measurement technique PIGE compared to the values from the bulk volume techniques INAA and CIC. Comparing
CIC-based extractable organic uorine to target PFAS measurements of food packaging samples by liquid chromatography
tandem mass spectrometry revealed large amounts of unidentied organic uorine not captured by compound-specic analysis.
1. INTRODUCTION
Per- and polyuoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are a class of
ubiquitous chemicals that have found innumerable industrial
and consumer applications over the past seven decades.
1
PFASs can be categorized as polymeric or nonpolymeric,
2
collectively amounting to more than 4700 CAS-registered
substances according to the OECD.
3
Environmental concerns
pertaining to PFASs are centered primarily on the peruoro-
alkyl acids (PFAA), a subclass of PFAS which display extreme
persistence and chain-length-dependent bioaccumulation and
adverse eects in biota.
2
The water- and grease-repellent properties of PFASs have
led to their extensive use in food contact paper and packaging.
Concentrations in the range of 1.01.5% per ber dry weight
are typical in most nished products.
4
Historically, most
uorinated coatings for paper and board were based on
peruorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) precursors, such as N-ethyl
peruorooctane sulfonamido alcohol-based phosphate diesters
(SamPAPs).
5,6
However, as a consequence of the phase-out of
PFOS and its precursors by 3M in 2001, most contemporary
formulations are now based on acrylate polymers with
uorotelomer or sulfonamido alcohol side chains or peruoro-
polyether-based polymers (PFPEs).
4,7
Several peer-reviewed
studies have reported the occurrence of PFAAs, polyuoroalkyl
phosphates (PAPs), uorotelomer alcohols, and saturated and
unsaturated uorotelomer acids in various types of food
packaging materials.
5,813
While the importance of PFASs in
food packaging as a human exposure source remains unclear,
some PFASs have been shown to migrate from food packaging
into food.
14,15
In response to concerns surrounding PFASs,
several states in the United States have implemented bans on
the use of these chemicals in food packaging,
16
and the Danish
Ministry of the Environment and Food has established a
total uorine indicator value of 0.1 μg/cm2in food
packaging.
17
Given their vast number and structural diversity, a
comprehensive characterization of PFASs in consumer
products represents a considerable analytical challenge.
18
Typically, a limited number of PFASs are quantied using a
Received: December 19, 2018
Revised: January 26, 2019
Accepted: January 28, 2019
Letter
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combination of solvent extraction and either liquid chromatog-
raphytandem mass spectrometry (LCMS/MS; ionic
PFASs) or gas chromatographymass spectrometry (GC
MS; semivolatile PFASs). These methods cannot capture all
PFASs, and even when high-resolution MS is employed (i.e.,
suspect or nontarget screening), a lack of authentic standards
precludes unequivocal identication and quantication. As a
result, questions about how many PFASs are missed during
routine analysis remain. Several analytical approaches have
emerged for quantifying total uorine (TF) regardless of
chemical structure or molecular weight (reviewed by
McDonough et al.
19
). These approaches can be used for
rapid screening of PFASs or in combination with targeted
analyses (i.e., LCMS/MS or GCMS) to assess the uorine
mass balance in a sample. Combustion ion chromatography
(CIC) is the most common method and was rst used for
uorine mass balance experiments in 2007 by Miyake et al.
20
Since then, there have been several applications of CIC for
determination of TF in environmental samples and consumer
products.
2124
Another method, particle-induced γ-ray emis-
sion (PIGE) spectroscopy, is a long-established ion beam
technique used for analysis of solid materials.
2528
The
approach was recently applied to papers and textiles by
Robel et al., who showed that ΣPFAS concentrations
accounted for a mere 0.214% of the TF content.
29
Lastly,
instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) is another
nuclear technique with widespread uses,
3032
with one recent
application involving measurement of uorine in biological and
environmental matrices.
33
The current paper reports the rst
application of INAA to consumer products. Other approaches
for measuring TF exist, such as inductively coupled plasma
(ICP) MS,
34
molecular absorption spectroscopy,
35
and X-ray
photoelectron spectroscopy;
36
only the latter has recently been
applied to uorine mass balance experiments in consumer
products. The data produced by these approaches have not yet
been compared. This is clearly needed, given the growing
interest in uorine mass balance experiments and the use of TF
for regulation of PFASs in consumer products.
The objectives of this study were (1) to compare the
accuracy, precision, linearity, and detection limits of TF meas-
urements by CIC, PIGE, and INAA, (2) to assess the
limitations of each approach, and (3) to assess the uorine
mass balance in several food packaging materials from the
Swedish market using LCMS/MS and CIC.
2. MATERIALS AND METHODS
2.1. Sample Collection and Preparation. Total uorine
measurements from three dierent laboratories were compared
using (a) a certied reference material (CRM), (b) PFOA-
spiked cellulose lters, and (c) a variety of food packaging
materials (Table S1). CIC analysis was carried out at
Stockholm University (SU); PIGE analysis was carried out at
the University of Notre Dame (UND), and INAA was carried
out at the University of Missouri Research Reactor (MURR).
The CRM (BCR-461, uorine in clay) was purchased from
Sigma-Aldrich and subsampled at SU into 13 mL poly-
propylene tubes prior to being shipped to UND and MURR
for direct analysis. Cellulose lter papers (Whatman) were
prepared by UND by spiking peruorooctanoic acid (PFOA)
solutions (prepared in methanol with food coloring to
determine the area with which the standard was applied)
with total masses of 0, 1.9, 3.8, 9.5, 19.1, and 38.2 μg of PFOA.
The methanol was evaporated to dryness prior to analysis.
Triplicates of each PFOA-spiked lter were sealed in individual
zip-lock bags and shipped to SU and MURR for analysis.
Finally, three french-fry bags (FF1FF3) and six microwave
popcorn bags (MP1MP6) purchased in Sweden in 2012 were
selected for analysis in this study. Pieces (2 cm ×2 cm) of each
sample were cut and sealed in individual zip-lock bags and
shipped to UND and MURR for analysis.
2.2. Extraction of Food Packaging. For targeted PFAS
analysis, food packaging samples were extracted according to a
Gebbink et al.
37
In short, samples (5 cm ×5 cm) were cut into
small pieces, fortied with internal standards (0.5 ng each),
and stirred in 40 mL of methanol at room temperature for 8 h.
The extract was concentrated under a stream of nitrogen to
approximately 1 mL, cleaned up using EnviCarb, and fortied
with a recovery standard (0.5 ng). For analysis of total
extractable organic uorine (EOF), the extraction procedure
was modied slightly by omitting the addition of internal and
recovery standards and cleanup by EnviCarb.
2.3. Instrumental Analysis. Detailed descriptions of
instrumental analysis and quantication for CIC, PIGE, and
INAA can be found in the Supporting Information. A brief
overview is provided here.
2.3.1. TF and EOF Analysis by CIC. TF and EOF were
analyzed according to the method described by Schultes et
al.
24
Briey, samples (neat samples and extracts) were placed
directly onto a ceramic boat that was introduced into a
combustion oven (HF-210, Mitsubishi) heated to 1100 °C
under an atmosphere of argon (carrier gas) and oxygen
(combustion gas) for 5 min. All gases were collected in Milli-
Q water (GA-210, Mitsubishi). Ions were separated on an ion
exchange column and measured by conductivity detection.
2.3.2. TF Analysis by PIGE. TF was analyzed according to
the method described by Ritter et al.
28
Briey, samples were
mounted across a stainless steel target frame and bombarded
with a 3.4 MeV beam of protons (50 nA for 180 s) to
produce γ-rays, which were measured using a high-purity
germanium detector (HPGe, Canberra, 20%) located at
approximately 75°to the beam. The combined number of
counts of two γ-rays characteristic of the decay of the 19F
nucleus at 110 and 197 keV/μC of beam delivered is
proportional to the TF. The beam intensity was measured in
a suppressed Faraday cup before and after each 3 min run and
normalized to a current measured in a tantalum collimator near
the beam exit window. For the powdered CRM material,
replicate targets were prepared by hydraulically compressing
the powder into a self-supporting pellet at approximately 350
bar for 30 s and then taped onto target frames.
2.3.3. TF Analysis by INAA. Samples were analyzed
according to the method described by Spate et al.
32
Briey,
samples were weighed into 0.5 mL high-density polyethylene
(HDPE) vials. The vials were encapsulated in HDPE rabbits
for irradiation in the pneumatic tube irradiation position of the
MURR at a neutron ux of 5.5 ×1013 ncm
2s1. Samples
were irradiated for 7 s, decayed for 11 s, and were counted for
30 s using an HPGe detector (Canberra, 20%). The 20F decays
(11.03 s half-life) by β-particle emission with a characteristic γ-
ray at 1633.6 keV. A correction was made for the fast neutron
reaction 23Na(n,α)20F using a single-element Na standard
irradiated and counted under the same conditions. The
neutron activation product 24Na emits a characteristic γ-ray
at 1368.6 keV. The measured ratio of the 1633.6 keV/1368.6
keV γ-ray in the single-element standards is used to correct
interference in the samples based on the measured 1368.6 keV
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B
γ-ray. The correction in samples analyzed in this study was
<1%.
2.3.4. Target PFAS Analysis by UHPLCMS/MS. Target
PFASs, including peruoroalkyl carboxylic acids (PFCAs, C4
C15), peruoroalkyl sulfonic acids (PFSAs, C4, C6, C8, and
C10), peruorooctane sulfonamide (FOSA), peruoroalkane
sulfonamidoacetic acids, uorotelomer sulfonates (4:2, 6:2,
and 8:2 FTSAs), uorotelomer carboxylic acids (5:3, 7:3, and
9:3), ADONA, F53-B, and polyuoroalkyl phosphoric acid
mono- and diesters (mono- and diPAPs, respectively), were
analyzed using a Waters Acquity UHPLC instrument coupled
to a Xevo TQ-S triple-quadrupole mass spectrometer
according to the methods described by Vestergren et al.
38
and Gebbink et al.
37
Instrumental parameters are listed in
Table S2. Limits of detection (LODs) for individual PFASs are
based on the average concentration in the extraction blank plus
3 times the standard deviation. In the absence of a blank signal,
the LOD was based on the concentration of the lowest
calibration standard at a minimum signal-to-noise ratio of 3.
Individual LODs are listed in Table S8.
2.4. Fluorine Mass Balance Calculations. To compare
PFAS concentrations (CPFAS, nanograms of PFAS per gram)
derived from UHPLCMS/MS analysis to EOF and TF
(CF_EOF and CF_TF, respectively; nanograms of F per gram)
measured by CIC, molecular PFAS concentrations are
converted to uorine equivalents using the following equation:
CnA C/MW
F PFAS F F PFAS PFAS
=× ×
_(1)
where CF_PFAS (nanograms of F per gram) is the corresponding
uorine concentration of a given PFAS, nFis the number of
uorine atoms on the molecule, MWPFAS is the molecular
weight of the PFAS, and AFis the atomic weight of uorine.
The total known extractable uorine concentration
(ΣCF_PFAS, nanograms of F per gram), which is the sum of
all individual CF_PFAS values, can be related to CF_EOF by eq 2:
CCC
FEOF FPFAS Fextr.unknow
n
=Σ +
___ (2)
where CF_extr. unknown (nanograms of F per gram) is the total
concentration of unidentied, extractable organic uorine.
Lastly, CF_EOF and CF_TF are related to each other via the
total nonextractable uorine concentration (CF_non extr., nano-
grams of F per gram) according to eq 3:
CC C
FTFFEOFFnon extr
.
=+
__ _
(3)
2.5. Quality Assurance and Quality Control. Accuracy
and precision were assessed through (a) replicate (n=3)
spikerecovery experiments using printer paper fortied with
36 native PFASs (targeted analysis) and (b) comparison of
replicate (n= 8) measurements of the CRM to certied
concentrations (TF analysis). Extraction blanks were processed
in every batch to monitor for background contamination, while
solvent blanks were injected intermittently during UHPLC
MS/MS and CIC analysis to monitor for carryover. Statistical
analysis was carried out at an α= 0.05 condence level in all
instances.
3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
3.1. Total Fluorine Method Comparison. A comparison
of the measured (n= 8) versus certied concentrations (568 ±
60 μg/g) of CRM BCR-461 revealed no statistically signicant
dierences for CIC (p= 0.18) or PIGE (p= 0.84) [one-sample
ttests (Figure 1a and Table S3)], indicating good accuracy
for both methods. Precision was also reasonable for both
approaches but slightly better for CIC (2.5% CV) than for
PIGE (8.1%; p= 0.005; F-test). INAA was unable to measure
F in the CRM due to the high Al content. The 27Al captures a
neutron, yielding unstable 28Al, which decays by β-emission
with a characteristic γ-ray at 1779 keV. The high levels of Al in
geological materials result in detector dead times of >90% for
the F analysis. Thus, INAA was deemed unsuitable for this
matrix.
PFOA-fortied lters (six fortication levels, including a
blank, each prepared in triplicate) were measured by CIC,
PIGE, and INAA (Figure 1b and Table S4). The blank lters
were below the LOD for all methods and therefore excluded
from statistical analysis. Concentrations measured by CIC
were, on average, 2.1% higher than those from PIGE and 4.1%
higher than those from INAA, while those from PIGE were
1.9% higher than those from INAA. Repeated ttests with
Bonferroni correction revealed that these dierences were not
statistically signicant (for individual pvalues, see Table S6).
All methods displayed good linearity (r2> 0.99) and precision
Figure 1. Comparison of TF methods (CIC, PIGE, and INAA) by
means of (a) certied reference material (CRM) measurements (n=
8; circles) and means (dots) (the error bar represents the standard
deviation, and the gray line indicates the certied concentration), (b)
PFOA-spiked lter measurements vs theoretical concentrations (the
gray line indicates slope = 1 and intercept = 0), and (c) food
packaging samples (circles, data points; dots, means). Note the
discrepancy in FF2 by PIGE due to the thickness and heterogeneity of
this paperboard sample. *n.a., not analyzed due to interference.
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C
[CV; 312% (CIC), 339% (PIGE), and 26% (INAA)]
over the range of concentrations on the lters.
Nine food packaging materials were analyzed in triplicate by
CIC, PIGE, and INAA (Figure 1c and Table S5). It is
important to note that while measurement replicates were
obtained for PIGE and INAA, the destructive nature of CIC
requires technical replicates to assess precision. Another
dierence between methods arises from the fraction of the
sample that contributes to the uorine signal. For example,
depending on the penetration depth of the PIGE particle
beam, only the surface F content is measured in thick samples;
in contrast, CIC and INAA measure the F content of the entire
sample independent of material thickness. As a result, TF
measurements determined by PIGE will be higher than those
determined by INAA and CIC for surface-coated products
when expressed on a weight basis. This dierence is clearly
demonstrated through measurements of FF2, which was the
only thick paperboard material analyzed in this work and was
over-reported by PIGE relative to CIC and INAA. When FF2
was excluded, CIC produced TF concentrations that were, on
average, 2.4% higher than those produced by PIGE and 7.3%
higher than those produced by INAA, while PIGE measure-
ments were an average of 4.9% higher than INAA measure-
ments. These dierences were not statistically signicant [two-
way analysis of variance with replication (p= 0.39)]. All
methods showed good precision [CV; 28% (CIC), 18%
(PIGE), and 16% (INAA)]. Assuming a 10 mg sample size,
detection limits were lowest for CIC (0.8 μg/g), followed by
INAA (20 μg/g) and PIGE (38 μg/g).
3.2. Fluorine Mass Balance of Food Packaging
Samples. 3.2.1. Target PFAS Analysis. A total of 22 of 44
target PFASs were detected in the food packaging materials
investigated here with Σ44PFAS concentrations ranging from
23.9 to 2220 pg/cm2(Figure 2a and Table S8). Spike
recovery experiments demonstrated good accuracy and
precision of the targeted PFAS analysis (see Table S7).
PFTeDA, PFDoDA, PFHpA, 6:2 diPAP, PFHxA, 6:2/8:2
diPAP, and 8:2 diPAP were detected in >50% of the samples.
10:2 monoPAP was detected at by far the highest
concentration (2100 pg/cm2) but only in a single sample
(MP5). In all other samples, the contribution of PFAA
precursors was minor. PFCAs were the major compound class
in 6 samples (FF2, FF3, MP2MP4 and MP6), with PFHxA
(<0.37160 pg/cm2) accounting for 5390% of Σ44PFAS
concentrations in these samples. PFOA was detected in only
FF2 and MP5 (4.32 and 22.4 pg/cm2, respectively), possibly
reecting the shift among industries from C8 to C6 chain
lengths.
3.2.2. Fluorine Mass Balance. CIC-based CF_TF concen-
trations in food packaging [2.0517.8 μg/cm2(Figure 2b)]
were high relative to the Danish Ministry of the Environment
and Food indicator value of 0.1 μg/cm2. This value was
established as a means of dierentiating between intentionally
added and background PFASs in food packaging.
39
The CF_EOF
was greater than the method detection limit (MDL) (0.04
0.07 μg/cm2) in four samples, but low (0.220.49 μg/cm2)
compared to CF_TF (accounting only for 05.5%). No
signicant correlations were observed among CF_TF,CF_EOF,
and ΣCF_PFAS. According to eq 3,CF_non extr. was high in all
samples, ranging from 94.5 to 99.9%. These ndings arm the
presence of polymeric coatings [e.g., peruoropolyethers and
uorotelomer (meth)acrylate-based side-chain uorinated
polymers] on these papers and paperboards, as polymers
have low solubility in most nonuorinated solvents.
40
Furthermore, the fractions of CF_TF and CF_EOF explained by
ΣCF_PFAS were negligible in all samples [means of 0.002 and
0.08%, respectively (Table S9)], leaving the majority of TF and
EOF unattributed. Therefore, we assume that our UHPLC
MS/MS method does not capture the PFASs intentionally
used in these products. Here it is germane to note that possible
degradation products and/or unreacted monomers of the
aforementioned polymeric coatings [e.g., FTOHs, uoro-
telomer olens, or uorotelomer (meth)acrylates] were not
included in our targeted analysis.
Previous reports on TF in food packaging align well with
concentrations reported in our study. Robel et al. measured
concentrations from below the LOD to 8.17 μg/cm2, and
Schaider et al. concentrations of 15.2 μg/cm2in U.S. fast
food packaging.
13,29
To the best of our knowledge, no prior
studies have performed direct quantication of EOF in food
packaging. While Robel et al. analyzed TF by PIGE in
packaging samples before and after extraction, thereby
indirectly measuring EOF, the dierences were not statistically
signicant.
29
This is a general problem arising when comparing
two large numbers, whereby a small dierence easily lies within
the error bounds. In our study, that problem is avoided by
direct measurement of EOF. Similar to our results, Robel et al.
report that the sum of ionic PFASs accounted for only 0
0.03% of the TF.
3.3. Implications. The results of the method comparison
revealed excellent agreement among all three total uorine
methods. However, technical dierences help determine their
Figure 2. Fluorine mass balance in food packaging samples comprising (a) PFAS concentrations displayed as the sum of each class (in picograms
per square centimeter) as measured by UHPLCMS/MS and (b) total uorine and extractable organic uorine contents (error bars represent the
standard deviation of triplicate measurements) in micrograms per square centimeter as measured by CIC. The percentage of EOF identied by the
sum of target PFAS (ΣCF_PFAS) is indicated in red.
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DOI: 10.1021/acs.estlett.8b00700
Environ. Sci. Technol. Lett. XXXX, XXX, XXXXXX
D
applicability domains. For example, the rapid and non-
destructive nature of PIGE and INAA allows for quick
screening applications, as for example for regulatory purposes.
CIC on the other hand excels at sensitivity and versatility, with
lower detection limits and the possibility for direct IC analysis
for determination of inorganic uoride. All three methods can
be used to analyze solid and liquid samples, although
preconcentration methods are used to increase sensitivity for
PIGE, which are not required for INAA and CIC.
In the case of food packaging materials, all three methods
prove to be applicable. Because of the limited penetration
depth of the particle beam, PIGE can distinguish between
coated and uncoated surfaces. Most uorine was persistent on
the paper and paperboards after methanol extractions, as
determined by comparably low EOF and target PFAS
concentrations. More broadly, the cross-validation of these
three TF methods means that they can be used as a
complement to high-specicity targeted analysis. The mass
balance measurements demonstrated in this work are critical in
fate and transport studies of PFASs in the environment, such as
those that can be found in the end-of-life options for paper
packaging. For example, regardless of whether PFAS-treated
paper decays in a landll, is composted and used as fertilizer, or
is recycled directly into more paper, these TF methods can be
used to study the environmental release of all PFASs over a
broad range of samples, disposal conditions, and locations.
Such a broad question could not be answered in a timely
manner with compound-specic analysis, yet LCMS/MS
identication of PFASs will remain an essential complement to
these robust TF methods.
ASSOCIATED CONTENT
*
SSupporting Information
The Supporting Information is available free of charge on the
ACS Publications website at DOI: 10.1021/acs.es-
tlett.8b00700.
Additional information about food packaging samples,
instrumental methods, target PFAS compounds, quality
assurance and quality control results, pvalues for
statistical analysis, and tabular overviews of CIC,
PIGE, INAA, and LCMS/MS results (PDF)
AUTHOR INFORMATION
Corresponding Author
*E-mail: lara.schultes@gmail.com.Telephone:
0046729440914.
ORCID
Lara Schultes: 0000-0002-3409-4389
Graham F. Peaslee: 0000-0001-6311-648X
Notes
The authors declare no competing nancial interest.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The authors thank the Swedish Research Council FORMAS
(Grant 2013-00794) for funding this project. Jan-Olov Persson
is acknowledged for statistical support. Kristina von Dolwitz
(Testfakta) is thanked for providing food packaging materials.
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F
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