ANSES proposes reinforcement of safety measures for baby diapers
ANSES proposes reinforcement of safety measures for baby diapers
Further to the publication in its first report dated June 2018 regarding sanitary protections, ANSES expands its scope in the report « Safety of baby diapers » published on January 23rd, 2019
ANSES (Agence Nationale de Sécurité sanitaire de l’alimentation, de l’environnement et du travail) has highlighted in this report exceedances of the sanitary threshold for several chemical substances in disposable baby diapers and recommends eliminating or reducing at the maximum their presence in these products.
The substances detected or quantified in disposable baby diapers sold in France, during the tests carried out by the INC (Institut National de la Consommation) and SCL (Service Commun des Laboratoires de la DGCCRF) in 2016, 2017 and 2018 are:
- Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
- Pesticides
- Formaldehyde
- Dioxins, furans and polychlorinated biphenyl-dioxin like (PCB-DL)
- Fragrance substances
- PAHs
ANSES concludes that the sanitary threshold is exceeded for several substances. It recommends to manufacturers and Responsible for placing on the market:
- To eliminate the use of fragrance substances, particularly skin sensitizers
- To master the origin of the raw materials in order to avoid an upstream contamination
- To improve the manufacturing process
- To set a maximum concentration for dioxins, furans and PCB-DL to be that of the quantification limits of the tests (0.02 ng/kg)
- To eliminate or reduce as much as possible the presence of PAHs, VOCs, pesticides and formaldehyde
ANSES recommends, in order to make sure that manufacturers have changed their practices, to strengthen the control of the chemical substances in disposable baby diapers placed on the market.
Finally, ANSES highlights the necessity of more restrictive regulatory measures both at national level and at European level under REACH Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 in order to secure the manufacturing of baby diapers.
Since 2016, Eurofins performs chemical analyses on all hygiene products including chemical analyses on raw materials and/or a mix of the entire baby diaper (see main examples of tests in the table below).
Eurofins can also guide you through performance aspects, sensorial panels, weight decomposition, clinical tests, in vitro cytotoxicity and microbiological analyses of all hygiene products.
Moreover, a team of expert toxicologists is now at your disposal for all requests regarding risk assessment studies or any other toxicological expertise, such as claims validation.
You will find below the main chemical tests carried out inside the Eurofins Group on hygiene products (non-exhaustive list):
|
Name: |
Method |
LOQ standard (1) |
|
Search and quantification of 26 allergens (possibility up to 60) according to the European regulation 1223/2009 |
GC/MS – |
1 mg/kg |
|
Formaldehyde |
Spectrophotometry §64 LFGB B 82.02-1 |
10 mg/kg |
|
Organochlorine pesticides |
GC/ECD - ASU L 00.00-34:2010-09 |
4,4-Dibromobenzophenone 0.01 mg |
|
Glyphosate and AMPA in cottons |
LC-MS/MS |
10 ng/1g |
|
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) |
GC-MS |
0,1 mg/kg |
|
Organostannic compounds- 8 compounds |
GC-MS |
between 1,5 and 12 µg/kg according to the tested compound |
|
Dioxins and furans - |
GC-MS/MS |
between 0,1 and 3,2 ng/kg |
|
EOX/ AOX |
Coulometric Micro detection |
AOX --> LOQ 0,5 mg Cl / kg ; LOD 1mg Cl / kg |
|
Heavy metals |
ICP / MS |
0,1 mg/kg: Copper (Cu); Nickel (Ni); Cobalt (Co); Cadmium (Cd); Mercury (Hg); Arsenic (As); Antimony (Sb) |
|
Nonylphenol, Octylphenol, Nonylphenol Monoethoxylate |
|
4-tert-octylphenol CAS N° : 140-66-9 --> 1mg/kg |
|
Volatile organic compounds (VOC) |
HS - GC/MS |
0,1 mg/kg |
|
||
