Phthalates & Other SVOCs Now Banned in Some Products

Special techniques are used to analyze SVOCs. Because of their low vapor pressures, SVOCs tend to condense on surfaces and only very low concentrations are measured in air. Thus, standard environmental chamber techniques used for VOCs are unreliable for determining the emissions of SVOCs from products. In addition, health risks associated with these chemicals may derive from exposure pathways other than gas-phase inhalation such as direct ingestion, dermal contact and hand-to-mouth transfer.

Product Content

Berkeley Analytical (BkA) has the full capability to analyze toys, child care articles, furniture components and other products for their content of the six phthalate esters identified in the Federal Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) of 2008, and help manufacturers, importers, distributors and retailers meet their CPSIA obligations. We are accredited to the approved U.S. CPSC test method and relevant U.S. EPA methods, and our laboratory is well equipped with state-of-the-art technology for cryogenic milling, accelerated solvent extraction, and high sensitivity GC/MS analysis of solvent extracts for phthalates. We apply similar methods and techniques for the analysis of PDBE’s and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in a variety of solid matrices.

Field-Collected Samples

BkA also provides IAQ professionals involved in building investigations with the analysis of phthalate esters and PAH in a variety of field collected matrices. These matrices include:

  • Air samples collected on low-volume PUF cartridges – requires a sample volume of only 240 L
  • Vacuum collected dust samples
  • Surface wipe samples collected with surgical gauze pads

View our SVOC sampling guides and contact us to discuss your SVOC analytical needs and to request a quotation.