There is increasing concerns from Europe and US regarding Phthalates. Phthalates refers to Phthalate Esters / PAEs, which are common addictive to soften plastics especially PVC in past 40 years and 80% of Phthalates are used in plastic products. It exists in others include inks, adhesives, sealant agents, paints, film coatings, glass fibers, leather, rainwear, footwear, dyestuff, perfume, softener, polish remover, lubricant, cosmetics and isolation for cables. Phthalates has toxic for reproduction.

Based on the application and customer’s safety concerns, there are tests based on different Phthalates. The common testing are 3P, 6P, 7P, 15P and 16P.

3P and 6P are based on ECC Directive 2005/84/EEC, CPSIA and AB 1108

http://www.hardlines.sgs.com/cts_phthalates_2005_84_eec.pdf

 

 

http://www.legisweb.com/app/pkgs/calm/Retrieve.asp?ref=urn%3Acalm%3A2007%3Aab1108%3Adoc 

 

3P refers to 3 types of Phthalates below.

Standard: No more than 0.1% or 1000ppm

• Toys and childcare products
• DEHP – Dis-(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate
• DBP – Dibutyl Phthalate
• BBP – Benzylbutyl Phthalate

6P refers to 6 types of Phthalates below.

Standard: No more than 0.1% or 1000ppm

Toys and childcare products

• DEHP – Dis-(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate
• DBP – Dibutyl Phthalate
• BBP – Benzylbutyl Phthalate
• Toys and childcare products that can be placed in the mouth
• DINP – Diisononyl Phthalate
• DNOP – Di-n-0ctyl Phthalate
• DIDP – Diisodecyl Phthalate

7P is for North America based on AB 1008, CPSIA and California Proposition 65. It is 6P plus DnHP (DHP) with no more than 0.1% or 1000ppm.

http://www.hardlines.sgs.com/cts_brochure_california_prop_65.pdf

 

 

15P and 16P are further requested by some European customers to ensure that the product is very safe.

15P is based on 6P plus 7 Phthalates.

Standard: No more than 0.1% or 1000ppm

• DEHP – Dis-(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate
• DBP – Dibutyl Phthalate
• BBP – Benzylbutyl Phthalate
• DINP – Diisononyl Phthalate
• DNOP – Di-n-0ctyl Phthalate
• DIDP – Diisodecyl Phthalate
• DNP – Dinonyl Phthalate
• DEP – Dicthyl Phthalate
• DPP – Diphenyl Phthalate
• DMP – Dimethyl Phthalate
• DCHP – Dicyclohexyl Phthalate
• DPRP – Di-propyl Phthalate
• DIBP – Di-iso-butyl Phthalate
• DHP – Dinheptyl Phthalate
• DIOP – Diisooctyl Phthalate

16P covers 15P and adding below

Standard: No more than 0.1% or 1000ppm

• DINA – Diisonoyl Adipate

For Denmark, 6P will follow 0.1% and all others will follow 0.05%

http://www.eiatrack.org/s/1257

Phthalates is only part of the safety concerns for human, especially for babies and kids. Since there are many other products in the market made of different materials and for different applications and customers, there are many other requirements for the sake of safety or environmental needs. RoHS and REACH are part of the examples.  We shall write up related articles later to keep everyone ahead.