57 research outputs found
Cadmium pigments in consumer products and their health risks
Ā© 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 Ī¼g gā1), 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 Ī¼g gā1 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 Ī¼g Lā1, but that non-compliance could occur for items of earthenware or damaged articles should a proposed limit of 5 Ī¼g Lā1 be introduced. The greatest consumer risk identified is the use of Cd pigments in the enamels of decorated drinking glasses. Thus, while dĆ©cor 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
Recommended from our members
The EPA Office of Environmental Justice EJ Small Grants Program
This document is an inventory of the profiles from the grants awarded in 2015. These grants were given to those able to improve environment or health
Recommended from our members
Fiscal Year 2001
This is a listing of grants made available by the United States Environmental Protection Agency
Recommended from our members
Environmental Justice Fact Sheet. Interagency Working Group. Native American Task Force
This fact sheet examines the environmental justice impact with Native Minute
Recommended from our members
Environmental Justice Small Grant Awards FY 2005
A list of the environmental justice small grants awarded by the United States Environmental Protection Agency Office of Environmental Justice in fiscal year 2005 (15 pages)
PER Pressure: New Jersey's āPopulation Emissions Ratioā Environmental Equity Screening Model
Strengthening Community Capacity to Participate in Making Decisions to Reduce Disproportionate Environmental Exposures
- ā¦