Indian Journal of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology

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Detection and Characterization of Children's Soft Toy for Phthalate Esters


Affiliations
1 Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310 Skudai, Johor, Malaysia
2 Rubber Research Institute of Malaysia, Sungai Buluh, 47000, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia
3 Faculty of Science, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310 Skudai, Johor, Malaysia
     

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On November 19, 2009, the European Union regulated three phthalates esters; Benzyl Butyl Phthalate (BBP), DiButyl Phthalate (DBP), and DiEthylHexyl Phthalate (DEHP) to a limit of less than 0.1% in all imported toys and articles. However, the U.S regulation strongly prohibited BBP, DBP and DEHP and at any concentrations more than 0.1%. These regulations thus indicate how serious phthlate esters and their effect on health. In the current study, five (5) imported samples of soft toys were obtained from local markets and analyzed for six (6) types of phthalate esters of BBP, DBP, DEHP, Din- Octyl Phthalate (DnOP), DiIsoNonyl Phthalate (DINP) and DiIsoDecyl Phthalate (DIDP) respectively. The method used was established by Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) Malaysia while characterization performed by Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC), Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). This study found all the samples to contain high percentage of DEHP while two (2) contained acceptable levels of DBP. Other phthlate esters were however not detected or below the detection limit of GC-MS.

Keywords

Phthalate Esters, Soft Toy, Safety Regulation, Health Effects
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  • Detection and Characterization of Children's Soft Toy for Phthalate Esters

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Authors

Abdul Rahim Yacob
Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310 Skudai, Johor, Malaysia
Aminah Mohamed Ayub
Rubber Research Institute of Malaysia, Sungai Buluh, 47000, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia
Nazirah Binti Said
Faculty of Science, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310 Skudai, Johor, Malaysia

Abstract


On November 19, 2009, the European Union regulated three phthalates esters; Benzyl Butyl Phthalate (BBP), DiButyl Phthalate (DBP), and DiEthylHexyl Phthalate (DEHP) to a limit of less than 0.1% in all imported toys and articles. However, the U.S regulation strongly prohibited BBP, DBP and DEHP and at any concentrations more than 0.1%. These regulations thus indicate how serious phthlate esters and their effect on health. In the current study, five (5) imported samples of soft toys were obtained from local markets and analyzed for six (6) types of phthalate esters of BBP, DBP, DEHP, Din- Octyl Phthalate (DnOP), DiIsoNonyl Phthalate (DINP) and DiIsoDecyl Phthalate (DIDP) respectively. The method used was established by Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) Malaysia while characterization performed by Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC), Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). This study found all the samples to contain high percentage of DEHP while two (2) contained acceptable levels of DBP. Other phthlate esters were however not detected or below the detection limit of GC-MS.

Keywords


Phthalate Esters, Soft Toy, Safety Regulation, Health Effects

References