Testing Consumer Products for Lead & Toxics

Lead and other toxic metals have long been regulated in paint for children’s products, but new regulations now require even lower levels and extend to more than just paint and toys. Now the substrate that the paint covers also needs to be tested to ensure it meets acceptable levels, and an expanded list of products sold to children age 12 and under is included.

Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP-OES or ICP-AES) technology is mandated by regulatory requirements (EN 71-3; ASTM F963; CPSIA 2008) for testing for the presence of lead and other toxic metals in children’s products.

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Application Notes
Lead and other Toxic Metals in Toys by XRF and ICP-OES
- The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA 2008) defines a children’s product as a product primarily used by a child under the age of 12 and defines new levels of lead allowed in those products1. Allowable lead in painted surfaces will be reduced from 600 mg/kg to 90 mg/kg one year from enactment of the legislation (enactment date: August 14, 2008).
Heavy Metal (lead) Analysis of Toys by ICP-OES
- In support of the toy industry, many laboratories are being called upon to analyze a wide variety of sample matrices for metal content. The primary element of interest is lead, but a number of other toxic elements pose a considerable threat, especially for children. This subset of elements, known as heavy metals, includes antimony, arsenic, barium, cadmium, chromium, selenium, mercury and lead as they are all known to accumulate in the body and cause detrimental effects over time.
Webcasts
Lead and Other Toxic Metals in Children's Products
- Presented by: Laura Thompson, Zoe Grosser "Determination of lead and other toxic metals in children's products".
Analysis of Toys for Safety
- Presented by: Zoe Grosser and Andrew Tipler "The analysis of toys for safety".
EcoAnalytix Solutions
PlaySafe™ Analyzer for Toxic Metals
-Uses CPSC test methodology to meet regulatory requirements (EN 71-3; ASTM F963; CPSIA 2008). It can easily test up to 50 samples per hour for lead – from raw materials to final product or anywhere along the process – as outlined by the CPSC as well as seven other metals regulated by the EU under EN 71-3.