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Abstract
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Phthalates are significant environmental pollutants due to their extensive application in plastic packaging and their demonstrated capacity to migrate into food and beverages, especially under standard storage and transportation conditions. In areas such as Iran and Iraq, characterized by elevated temperatures, prolonged shelf lives, and a rising demand for bottled and packaged beverages, the risk of phthalate migration presents a considerable yet largely unmeasured public health concern. Despite substantial global data associating phthalate exposure with endocrine disruption, reproductive toxicity, metabolic abnormalities, and heightened risk of chronic diseases, no thorough monitoring studies have been undertaken on beverages available in the consumer markets of these two nations. The deficiency in surveillance compromises regulatory bodies' capacity to formulate protective legislation or inform the public about exposure risks . This research will generate crucial baseline data for Iran and Iraq by concentrating on authentic beverage samples and utilizing standardized, sensitive analytical methods, thereby laying the groundwork for food safety policy formulation, risk assessment models, and the safeguarding of consumer health.
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