This research is co-financed by Greece and the European Union (European Social Fund- ESF) through the Operational Programme \"Human Resources Development, Education and Lifelong Learning\" in the context of the project \"Strengthening Human Resources Research Potential via Doctorate Research\" (MIS-5000432), implemented by the State Scholarships Foundation (IKY). The authors would also like to thank the Unit of Environmental, Organic and Biochemical high resolution analysis-ORBITRAP-LC-MS of the University of Ioannina for providing access to the facilities. ## References  
* [1] Olga, K.; Grabicova, K.; Cerveny, D.; Turek, J.; Kolarova, J.; Randak, T.; Zlabek, V.; Grabi, R. Transport of pharmaceuticals and their metabolites between water and sediments as a further potential exposure for aquatic organisms. _J. Hazard. Mater._**2018**, _342_, 401-407. * [2] Ccanccapa, A.; Masia; A.; Andreu, V.; Pico; Y. Suspect, non-target and target screening of emerging pollutants using data independent acquisition: Assessment of a Mediterranean River basin. _Sci. Total Environ._**2019**, _540_, 200-210. * [3] Valdes, M.E. ; Huerta, B.; Wunderlin, D.A. ; Bistoni, M.A. ; Barcelo, D.; Rodriguez-Mozaz, S. Bioaccumulation and bioconcentration of carbamazepine and other pharmaceuticals in fish under field and controlled laboratory experiments. Evidences of carbamazepine metabolization by fish. _Sci. Total Environ._**2016**, _557-558_, 58-67. * [4] Bujagic, I.M. ; Grujic, S.; Lausevic, M.; Hofmann, T.; Micic, V. Emerging contaminants in sediment core from the Iron Gate I Reservoir on the Danube River. _Sci. Total Environ._**2019**, _662_, 77-87. * [5]_17.35. Phthalic Esters Released in Hot Beverages by Vending Machines: Analytical Protocol by Means of Ultrasound-Vortex-Assisted Liquid-Liquid Micro-Extraction and GC-IT/MS_**I. Notardonato, S. Passarella, C. Di Fiore *, A. Iannone, G. Ianiri, M. V. Russo and P. Avino Department of Agriculture, Environmental and Food Sciences, University of Molise, Via De Sanctis, I-86100 Campobasso, Italy  
* Correspondence: c.difiore@studenti.unimol.it  
Food distributed by vending machines is considered the main source of food available in public indoor environments such as universities, schools, and offices. In order to achieve efficient service, it is necessary that food and drinks are delivered by means of more or less resistant containers. Plastic containers are versatile due to their polymer molecular structure, but at the same time, they can cause possible risks to the health of the consumer. Plastic containers present several functional properties, such as protection against microorganisms and exogenous insects, and the prevention of loss of flavour and moisture, but at the same time it is possible that monomers, oligomers, and plasticizer additives can migrate into the food and contaminate it. Phthalic acid esters (PAEs), or better known as phthalates, are added to the polymer molecular structure with the aim of increasing its flexibility, plasticity, and strength. However, these chemicals can leach, migrating from the polymeric structure to the food, resulting in chemical contamination and a risk to the health of the consumer. In this study, a simple, fast, inexpensive, and effective analytical method is developed for the research and determination of seven phthalates (DMP, DEP, DiBP, DBP, DEHP, DOP, and DDP) [1] potentially released in hot drinks from disposable containers used in vending machines. The extraction and preconcentration technique used is the ultrasound vortex assisted dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction (UVA-DLLME) [2]. The effect of the waiting time from the dispensing of the hot drink to its actual consumption for the extraction of the molecules is also investigated, obtaining a temporal release profile slightly shifted towards higher molecular weight PAEs and vice versa for those with low molecular weight.