Specific migration of volatile organic compounds from light wood packaging (maritime pine and poplar) into a dry food simulant (tenax®): identification, quantification and toxicological assessment using the TTC approach

Abstract

Abstract Specific migration of volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds (VOCs/SVOCs) from untreated light wood packaging from maritime pine (Pinus pinaster) and poplar (Populus sp.) into the dry food simulant Tenax® was investigated by thermal desorption coupled to GC/MS (TD-GC/MS). Direct and indirect contact modes were tested for sapwood and heartwood of dry and wet wood at 4–40 °C for 24 h and 10 days. More than 140 VOCs were identified across all conditions combined. Poplar exhibited an aldehyde-dominated profile, whereas pine showed a terpene-dominated profile. Direct contact resulted in approximately twice as many identified compounds as indirect contact. Moisture induced a qualitative diversification of the poplar VOC profile and significantly reduced migration levels. Seven representative compounds were quantified and assessed using the Threshold of Toxicological Concern (TTC) approach with Cramer classification. Once migration was expressed on a contact-area basis, first-tier TTC screening indicated exposures below the Cramer-class thresholds for all seven compounds, although the margins were narrow for some compounds (e.g. 2-pentylfuran). This first-tier screening does not cover substances bearing a structural alert for genotoxicity, for which a lower threshold of 0.15 µg/person/day applies; a complete safety assessment therefore requires confirmation that the analytical method is sufficiently sensitive at that level. These findings provide a scientific basis for risk assessment and support the development of a dedicated regulatory framework for wood as a food contact material.