Determination of plasticizers ¿ safety of toys (organic chemical compounds)

01.06.2004 - 31.12.2004
Auftragsforschungsprojekt
Various substances are typically used as plasticizers in soft polyvinyl chloride (PVC) toys and childcare articles. Due to health concerns regarding these substances there is the necessity to control the release of plasticizers from toys and childcare articles by mouthing to minimize the potential exposure of infants. The goal of this work is the dynamic extraction of PVC toys and the development of a analytical methods to identify and quantify 21 plasticizers from an aqueous solution including validation and peer review. The substances to be analyzed are from several groups of chemicals, including phthalates, citrates, sebacates, adipates, phosphates and benzoates. Cooperation with the Consumer Council of the Austrian Standards Institute (Dr. Franz Fiala) Various substances are typically used as plasticizers in soft polyvinyl chloride (PVC) toys and childcare articles. Due to health concerns regarding these substances there is the necessity to control the release of plasticizers from toys and childcare articles by mouthing to minimize the potential exposure of infants. Research activities carried out so far have met with high interest as witnessed by enquiries from abroad. Following the example of our work practical sucking experiments have also been carried out within the framework of an extensive Dutch study later on. Among others the results of the studies have been drawn upon by the EU Scientific Committee on Toxicity, Ecotoxicity and the Environment (CSTEE), a European committee of toxicologists advising the Commission concerning the evaluation of such chemicals. In 1999 the Commission has imposed preliminary bans on phthalates used in toys and baby articles, intended to be mouthed by children up to 3 years of age. However, consumer and environmental organisations have strongly pushed for a permanent ban of phthalates in all products intended to be used by children of this age group. It appears that the Commission under the pressure of industry will go for a migration limit instead of a ban. In this context it is worth mentioning that phthalates are just a small group out of the complete chemical repertoire used in toys. Therefore, the Commission entrusted CEN with the preparation of respective standards in 1996. These standards are intended to cover the most important substance groups - solvents, preservatives, colorants, plasticizers, monomers and flame retardants. Jointly with the former Institute of Food Chemistry and Food Technology (now Division of Natural Product and Food Chemistry / Institute of Chemical Engineering ) at the Vienna University of Technology the Consumer Council has applied as "Lead Laboratory" in the field of plasticizers (with the exemption of phthalates) and has been charged with this task. The Lead Laboratory develops the method, which is subsequently checked by two "peer review laboratories". The goal of this recent work was the development of an analytical method to identify and quantify 21 plasticizers from an aqueous solution including validation and peer review. The substances to be analyzed were from several groups of chemicals, including phthalates, citrates, sebacates, adipates, phosphates and benzoates. During the second research period the influence of matrix effects analysing real samples were investigated.

Personen

Projektleiter_in

Projektmitarbeiter_innen

Institut

Contract/collaboration

  • Verbraucherrat im Österreichischen Normungsinstitut

Schlagwörter

DeutschEnglisch
WeichmacherPlasticizers
KinderspielwarenToys
Analytikanalysis
MigrationMigration

Externe Partner_innen

  • Verbraucherrat im Österreichischen Normungsinstitut

Publikationen