Towards suitable tests for the migration of metals from ceramic and crystal tableware: Work in support of the revision of the Ceramic Directive 84/500/EEC

This JRC report summarises and distils a series of investigations on the technical feasibility to testing compliance of tableware to potential lower limits for the release of metals. It investigated different protocols for articles ranging from tableware ,bakeware to crystalware, and for testing the rim of decorated wares. It also evaluated the performance of analytical methods for the quantification of a range of metals. The work provides scientific evidence needed in support of future risk management initiatives to ensure the safety of ceramics and crystal in the EU while fostering the EU single market.JRC.F.7-Knowledge for Health and Consumer Safet

Guidelines on Testing Conditions for Articles In Contact With Foodstuffs (With A Focus on Kitchenware) - A CRL-NRL-FCM Publication, 1st Edition 2009

Comparability of results is the most important feature of the measurements for official controls purposes. Reliability of results is in turn strongly dependent on test conditions, on how well a method performs and how it is performed by the laboratory that does it. The Community Reference Laboratory (CRL) and its National Reference Laboratories (NRLs) for Food Contact Materials (FCM) have recognised that technical specifications are not always detailed in standards or legislative documents, and consequently there are sometimes gaps and lack of harmonisation in how official controls are practically performed. Therefore several guidelines were been initiated. The scope is to develop a unified understanding of the practical implementation of existing or new legislation in the context of official controls for FCM. The expected impact is to constantly improve the ability for NRLs to give the same competent advice in this field to National Authorities, food Inspection and private compliance laboratories for the practical implementation of official controls for FCM. This guide contains practical information to define the parameters of an overall or specific migration test according to the nature of the materials and objects in contact with food, with a focus on kitchenware. This focus was chosen because kitchenware is typically placed in contact with food in the home and thus the challenge is to define worst foreseeable conditions of use. This guide is intended as a dynamic document and therefore will evolve and expand into further editions to cover more aspects. This is the first edition. These guidelines have been endorsed by the EU official Network of National Reference Laboratories and approved by the EU Commission competent service DG SANCO. This work also highlights an important deliverable for the Network of NRLs. In particular, the members of the task force ¿test conditions¿ that have dedicated time and effort to provide input into the development of these guidelines. They are gratefully acknowledged here for their contribution: NRL-BE (Fabien Bolle, Tina n¿Goy), NRL-DE (Oliver Kappenstein), NRL-DK (Jens Petersen), NRL-ES (Juana Bustos), NRL-FR1 (Patrick Sauvegrain), NRL-EL (Timokleia Togkalidou), NRL-NL (Durk Schakel, Dita Kalsbeek-van Wijk), NRL-PL (Kazimiera Cwiek-Ludwicka), NRL-SI (Viviana Golja), NRL-UK (Emma Bradley).JRC.DG.I.2-Chemical assessment and testin

Annual report 2014 of the EURL-FCM on activities carried out for the implementation of Regulation (EC) no 882/2004

This annual report presents the activities of the EURL FCM in 2014 under the Administrative Agreement N °SANCO 2014/FOOD SAFETY/083-Food Contact Materials" (Ref. JRC: 33483 EURL FCM IX). The work programme 2014 for the European Union Reference Laboratory for Food Contact Materials was established in consensus with the Network of National Reference Laboratories (NRLs) and DG Consumers and Food Safety (SANTE). The JRC organised five Interlaboratory comparisons (dry foods, identification of polymers, metals from plastics, metals from ceramics, surface area). It developed new tests for ceramics towards future limits. It produced a guidance on surface measurements and compliance. It organised 2 trainings on exposure to food chemicals and on upcoming JRC migration testing guidelines for the Regulation on plastics (EU) 10/2011. It developed a repository of more than 400 substances and 300+ methods to improve compliance of substances under Reg. (EU) 10/2011.JRC.I.1-Chemical Assessment and Testin

Health and Safety Concerns: Quantitative Studies of Leaching of Metals from Glazed Surfaces of Traditional Ceramic Potteries

Traditional ceramic wares have been known as a source of heavy metals poisoning. Traditional ceramic potteries may be improperly glazed, and the glaze used to make the pottery may contain over amounts of heavy metals. These over glazed ceramic wares can release deadly metal into foodstuff and constitute health hazards. In this work, Quantitative studies were done according to ASTM C 738.81 (1982) leaching standard test methods for the determination of trace amount of selected metals from glazed surfaces of traditional ceramic potteries by 4% acetic and 2% citric acid standard solutions at different temperatures. Finally, leaching potential has been done using ICP-MS analysis. The capacity of each ceramic tableware sample ranged between 250 and 350ml. The ceramic wares selected randomly from products available in the local markets at Doha (Qatar), Cairo (Egypt) and Gharyan (Libya)

Innovative cleaner production technique: foam glass production from lead crystal glass sludge

An innovative cleaner production technique that adopts open-recycling system of the grinding and polishing sludge of lead crystal glass was applied in this study. Foam glass with good properties that can be used in the thermal insulation applications was produced from the grinding and polishing sludge. The leaching test of the sludge showed that it is a hazardous waste because its leachate has a lead concentration of 7.5 mg/l, while the leachate of the produced foam glass was proved to have a negligible lead concentration of less than 0.02 mg/l. The effect of the heating method, sintering temperature, holding time and additives of Silicon Carbide SiC and granite powder on the properties of the foam glass was investigated. The investigated properties are foam bulk density, porosity percentage, compressive strength and thermal conductivity. Sintering the samples by direct insertion to the oven resulted in lower compressive strength and lower density compared to the low heating rate of around 1.5 oC/min adopted in this study. Sintering temperature of 750 oC at a holding time of 30 minutes produced foam glass with bulk density of 0.485 g/cm3, porosity of 84.6%, compressive strength of 2.21 MPa and thermal conductivity of 0.051 W/m. K. These properties are comparable to those of commercial foam glass. Lower temperatures resulted in foam glass with significantly higher bulk density, while higher temperatures led to deterioration in the foam glass properties due to the coalescence phenomenon. The addition of SiC leads to increase foam glass porosity and reduce its bulk density, compressive strength and thermal conductivity. Adding SiC from 2 to 8 wt.% produced a foam glass with porosity 89.4-91.9%, bulk density 0.256-0.334 g/cm3, compressive strength 0.89-1.44 MPa and thermal conductivity 0.039-0.058 W/m.K. In contrast, the addition of granite powder reduces the foam glass porosity and increases its bulk density, compressive strength and thermal conductivity. Adding granite powder from 2 to 8 wt.% produced a foam glass with porosity 76.1-83.2%, bulk density 0.529-0.747 g/cm3, compressive strength 2.43-5.09 MPa, thermal conductivity 0.074-0.135 W/m. K. It can be concluded that the foam glass prepared by adding SiC is suitable to the applications that need very low thermal conductivity, while the foam glass prepared by adding granite powder is suitable to the applications where compressive strength is of more importance

Integrazione di celle solari di terza generazione nel vetromattone per la realizzazione di involucri edilizi traslucidi fotovoltaici

L’integrazione di celle solari di terza generazione - Dye-sensitised Solar Cells (DSSC) - nel vetromattone consente di ottenere un prodotto edilizio in grado di generare energia pulita, personalizzabile in termini di colore, livelli di trasparenza e fi niture, adatto alla realizzazione di componenti edilizi fotovoltaici, traslucidi e multifunzionali, facilmente integrabili nelle chiusure degli edifi ci per la costruzione di involucri edilizi energeticamente effi cienti ed attivi anche in contesti climatici avversi, quali possono essere quelli del Mediterraneo e delle aree subtropicali. L’articolo illustra 4 differenti ipotesi di integrazione delle DSSC nel vetromattone fornendo, per ciascuna, una stima della produzione fotovoltaica e delle performance energetiche (termiche ed ottiche). Anche gli aspetti relativi al sistema di assemblaggio “a secco” dei vetromattoni modifi cati tramite l’integrazione delle DSSC, per la realizzazione dei componenti edilizi fotovoltaici, vengono qui illustrati in uno ad alcune rifl essioni sulla necessità di ripensare il fotovoltaico nell’ottica della building integration.The integration of third generation Dye-sensitised Solar Cells (DSSC) with the glassblock allows to obtain a building product able to produce clean energy, customizable in terms of colours, transparency levels and fi nishing, for the assembly of multifunctional, translucent and photovoltaic building components, which can be easily integrated for the construction of energy effi cient and active building envelopes also in adverse climate areas, such as the Mediterranean and subtropical zones. The paper illustrates 4 different hypotheses of integration of the DSSC with the glassblock and for each provides an evaluation of photovoltaic production and energy performance (thermal and optical). The aspects related to the dry assembly system of the DSSC-integrated glassblocks for the construction of the photovoltaic building components will also be illustrated, together with some considerations about the necessity of rethinking photovoltaic at the prospect of building integration

Cadmium pigments in consumer products and their health risks

© 2018 Elsevier B.V. Cadmium is a toxic heavy metal that has been increasingly regulated over the past few decades. The main exposure routes for the general public are the consumption of certain foods and the inhalation of cigarette smoke. However, additional exposure may occur through the current and historical use of the metal in consumer products. In this paper, the uses of Cd in consumer goods are reviewed, with the focus on brightly-coloured Cd sulphide and sulphoselenide pigments, and measurements of Cd in historical and contemporary products ascertained by XRF are reported. Cadmium is encountered across a wide range of contemporary plastic products, mainly because of the unregulated recycling of electronic waste and polyvinyl chloride. However, concentrations are generally low (<100 μg g−1), conforming with current limits and posing minimal risk to consumers. Of greater concern is high concentrations of pigmented Cd (up to 2% by weight) in old products, and in particular children's toys that remain in circulation. Here, tests conducted suggest that Cd migration in some products exceeds the Toy Safety Directive limit of 17 μg g−1 by an order of magnitude. The principal current use of Cd pigments is in ceramic products where the metal is encapsulated and overglazed. Leaching tests on new and secondhand items of hollowware indicate compliance with respect to the current Cd limit of 300 μg L−1, but that non-compliance could occur for items of earthenware or damaged articles should a proposed limit of 5 μg L−1 be introduced. The greatest consumer risk identified is the use of Cd pigments in the enamels of decorated drinking glasses. Thus, while décor is restricted to the exterior, any enamel within the lip area is subject to ready attack from acidic beverages because the pigments are neither encapsulated nor overglazed. Glass bottles decorated with Cd-based enamel do not appear to represent a direct health hazard but have the propensity to contaminate recycled glass products. It is recommended that decorated glassware is better regulated and that old, brightly-coloured toys are treated cautiously

Report on the inter-laboratory comparison exercise organised by the European Union Reference Laboratory for Food Contact Materials: Determination of elements in acetic acid solutions and in migration from ceramic and glass tableware

This report presents the outcome of an inter-laboratory comparison exercise (ILC) on the determination of selected metals in acetic acid solutions and the determination of migration of elements from ceramic and glass tableware. The exercise was organised by the European Union Reference Laboratory for Food Contact Materials (EURL-FCM) to evaluate the enforceability of measures under discussion for the future revision(s) of ceramics Directive 84/500/EEC [1] and the implementation of provisions laid down in the Commission Regulation 10/2011 [2] for plastics. National Reference Laboratories (NRLs) requested the EURL-FCM to organise an ILC with the aim to check (i) the analytical abilities of participating laboratories to quantify Cu, Fe, Zn and Sb in a solution of acetic acid 3% and Ba, Co, Mn, Pb, Cd and Al in a solution of acetic acid 4%; (ii) to test the laboratories performance to carry out the migration test on ceramic and glass articles and (iii) to derive precision criteria, including repeatability and reproducibility for the release of elements from tableware. Participation in this ILC was mandatory for the nominated NRLs, and open to Official Control Laboratories (OCLs) and other invited laboratories. A total of 53 participants from 27 countries registered to the exercise. Twenty-nine NRLs from 27 countries participated in this ILC and all of them reported results. Laboratory results were rated using z-score in accordance with ISO 13528:2015 [3]. The target standard deviation for the ILC assessment (σ), for all measurands was calculated based on previous ILC03/04 2014 exercises [4] for spiked solutions and using the robust reproducibility standard deviation for the migration exercise on tableware. Repeatability and reproducibility standard deviations for the quantification of elements in acetic acid 3% and acetic acid 4% (spiked solutions and leachates) were calculated using robust approaches [3, 5]. The outcome of this exercise was satisfactory. The rate of success was almost always higher than 80% for all elements in all samples. No difference between the performance of NRLs and OCLs was observed. Since the exercise required the uncertainty estimation, an additional assessment was provided to each laboratory, indicating how reasonable their measurement uncertainty estimation was. lζ-scoresl were systematically higher than z-scores, that underlines the need of an improvement in estimation of the measurement uncertainties.JRC.F.5-Food and Feed Complianc

Interaction between lead crystal glass (24 % PbO) and acetic acid

On commercially available lead crystal glass tumblers (24 % PbO), the interaction between their bulk and grain forms and aqueous Solutions of various concentrations of acetic acid at different temperatures (22 to 95 °C), and for different times (30 min to 300 d) was studied. The extent of interaction was evaluated by determining the concentrations of K⁺, Na⁺, Pb²⁺ and Si⁴⁺ ions extracted by acetic acid, the change in the pH value of aqueous acetic acid Solutions and the weight loss of glass grains. The results showed that: a) Pb²⁺ was released from the glass studied under the Standard testing conditions in concentradons that were smaller than those specified in the various Standard specifications. b) The extraction of the different cations was significantly affected by the form of the test sample; glass grains were more reactive than the bulk form. c) Extraction of modifier cations, K⁺, Na⁺ and Pb²⁺, during short times of attack, up to 6 h at temperatures u p to 95 °C or during long-time attack up to 20 d at 22 °C, could be represented by a straight-line relationship when plotted against t^(1/2).Deviation was observed for times longer than 20 d but the straight-line relationship could be restored by plotting the extraction data against t. Such behaviour indicates that the leached layer became sufficiently thick after 20 d, so that the leaching and etching reactions proceeded at equal rates. d) The dissolution of glass increased with increasing temperature of attack up to 95 °C, but the mechanism of attack remained essentially of the leaching type. e) The extraction of K⁺, Na⁺, Pb²⁺ and Si⁴⁺ ions was affected by changing the concentration of acetic acid, which was correlated with the corresponding change in its pH value. f) The quantities of Pb^^ ions released by 4 % acetic acid Solution were several Orders of magnitude greater than that released by 40% ethyl alcohol Solution indicating that the Standard 4 % acetic acid test Solution is quite suitable for Pb²⁺ release safety

Residential lead hazards, nutritional deficiencies, and socio-cultural factors related to Hispanic children with blood lead levels greater than or equal to five micrograms per deciliter

One of the most significant public health successes during the late 20th century was the reduction of blood lead levels among children in the United States. However, lead continues to be a public health issue because it often affects minority children of lower socioeconomic status, who live in older homes. Young children are especially susceptible to the harmful affects of lead due to their vulnerable developmental state. According to research, the most common sources of lead exposure for U.S. children are lead-based paint and lead-contaminated dust in the home; This study examined residential lead hazards, nutritional deficiencies, and socio-cultural factors related to children with blood lead levels ≥ 5mug/dL in Clark County, Nevada. The results demonstrated that lead-based paint residential hazards may not be the most common source for childhood lead exposure for children. While the results on nutritional deficiencies and Socio-cultural factors related to Hispanic children were insignificant, evident trends were observed. These trends warrant the development for culturally appropriate lead prevention programs in Clark County, Nevada