AfPS Product Safety 2019:01 PAH
AfPS GS stands for the Committee for Tested Product Safety. This directive is specifically concerned with the assignment of the GS Label for the determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in polymer samples.
Among the main causes of PAH contamination in materials is the use of:
Plasticizer oils in rubber and other flexible plastics (soft plastics)
Carbon black as a black pigment in coatings, rubber and plastics
Carbon-containing solvents (e.g. solvent naphtha)
Contamination has so far been detected not only in rubber but also in plastic types such as ABS, PP, various synthetic fibers, natural latex, paints and in materials treated with naphthalene. A test procedure is used for this purpose, which is run through by the GS office both in new approval procedures and in the monitoring of existing GS Label certificates.
Test procedure for recognition of the GS Label
| Risk Assessment: | Relevant contact/grip or actuation surfaces will be defined for the test. All surfaces that can come into direct contact with the skin or mucous membranes during intended or foreseeable use are to be taken into account here. |
| Kategorisierung: | The product parts defined in the risk assessment must then be categorized and tested for the actual content of PAHs. It must be ensured that the determination limit of 0.2 mg/kg for each individual PAH component can be complied with using the test method. |
| Prüfung & Bewertung: | Components of the test procedure are sample preparation, extraction of the PAHs, purification of the extract, identification and quantification. Subsequently, the GS authority evaluates the result and, if passed, recognizes the GS label certificate. |
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