Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH)

A recent enquiry into tools by consumer association "Stiftung Warentest" has shown that some of the rubber and plastic components in these devices contain high concentrations of PAH. These substances are found, sometimes in very high concentrations, in black, elastic materials such as cables, plugs, cord guards or in other parts made out of soft materials. These results have been confirmed by our own tests.

The polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) are a class of chemical substances containing more than 100 different compounds. PAH are formed during the combustion and pyrolysis of organic substances, in particular where the supply of oxygen is reduced. The PAH are then contained in the combustion residues, for example, soot. PAH are also found in coal and mineral oil and in some products manufactured from them.

Some of these materials are classified as carcinogens, others are suspected of being carcinogenic, benzo(a)pyrene is undoubtedly carcinogenic.

The contamination of rubber and plastic materials is probably caused by the use of highly contaminated soot which is used to colour the materials. Aromatic mineral oils are used in particular as plasticizers for rubber, these can also contain PAH.

There are no legal requirements or limits governing concentrations of PAH in rubber materials or plastics. Nevertheless, the levels of these compounds should be reduced to a minimum as far as technically possible in materials and products intended for the consumer.

The LGA QualiTest GmbH's Competence Center Chemical Product Testing carries out tests on PAH as a matter of routine.

Dr. Dorothee Boeck Dr.rer.nat., staatl.gepr.Lebensmittelchem. TÜV Rheinland LGA Products GmbH Tillystraße 2 90431 Nuremberg Germany Phone: +49 (0) 911 655-56 61 Fax:     +49 (0) 911 655-57 39 eMail: dorothee.boeck@lga.de

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Last Updated: 29.10.2010