Lead and Cadmium in Platics by ICPMS

An Alert

Clients who are interested in testing PVC on electrical components need to be aware that the various components may differ greatly in Pb and Cd content. We recently found samples where the electrical cords contained little of no Pb, but the plugs attached to the cords contained more than 1% Pb. In all cases the cords and plugs appeared to be made from the same plastic (same color and same feel).

We strongly recommend that the individual components of plastic coated electrical parts be tested separately.

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Interlaboratory Study

WCAS is pleased to announce that we participated in an international, interlaboratory study on lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) in Plastics during October 2003. The study was conducted by the Institute for Interlaboratory Studies (Dordrecht, NLD). The study consisted of 3 commercial samples of PVC plastic with varying amounts of Pb and Cd. Again, the WCAS results were in excellent agreement with the study means.

The purpose of the study was to provide precision and accuracy data in support of EC restrictions on total Cd to 100 mg/Kg. The EC also restricts the total of lead, mercury, cadmium, and hexavalent chromium to not more than 100 mg/kg. A defacto Prop 65 limit of 300 ppm has been adopted for Pb in PVC. Sixty-one laboratories from 27 countries participated.

Since we routinely test for Prop 65 and environmental regulations in many products, especially lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), and other toxic, heavy metals, we were quite interested in participating in this study.

To view the results of the 2001 interlaboratory study on Cd in PVC, click on Cd/PVC.

While the entire report can be viewed at http://www.iisnl.com/pdf/iis03p02x.pdf, the results are summarized below:

Lead (Pb) Results

Sample	Mean Result mg/kg	WCAS Reported	Z*
0354	53.9	52.0	-0.25
0356	12,995.5	14,350	1.11

Cadmium (Cd) Results

Sample	Mean Result mg/kg	WCAS Reported	Z*
0355	65.6	61.0	-0.79
0356	~0.5	0.605

* |Z| < 1 good, 1 < |Z| <2 satisfatory,
1 < |Z| < 3 questionable, |Z| > 3 unsatisfactory

Sample 0356 was chosen to have little or no Cd. Many labs reported ND. With ICPMS, our detection limit was <0.01 mg/kg.

For more information on testing for trace elements, click on ICPMS.

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