Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs, also polyaromatic hydrocarbons) are hydrocarbons—organic compounds containing only carbon and hydrogen—that are composed of multiple aromatic rings (organic rings in which the electrons are delocalized). Formally, the class is further defined as lacking further branching substituents off of these ring structures. AHs usually exist in petrochemical, rubber, plastics, lubricant, antirust oil and organic compounds of incomplete combustion. But some PAHs are carcinogenic and mutagenic. So far there are more than 100 known PAHs,18 of which are common (see the German standard below for specifics).

The Presence of PAHs

Materials that may contain PAHs: charcoal, crude oil, creosote, tar (natural); medication, dyes, plastics, rubber, pesticide (artificial); lubricant, releasing agent, capacitor electrolyte, mineral oil, asphalt (artificial); pesticide, germicide, mosquito-repellent incense, smoking, gasoline retarder (artificial), etc.

Products that may contain PAHs:plastic & rubber handle, plastic packing containers, plastics with strange odour, rubber products, plastic and rubber components in electrical and electronic equipment.

Regulations

Up to now, countries and regions specify PAHs requirements through regulations and other written documents:

• Germany: GS certification,LFGB;
• EU: REACH Regulation;
• US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA);
• China GB, GB/T, GHZB;
• OEKO-TEX® standard 100

Comparison List of PAHs Testing

[Germany Standard] PAH Testing

PAHs-containing products have given rise to public concern since Germany found dangerous levels of PAHs were present in iron hammer handles in 2015. Germany mandated PAHs testing in GS mark certification as specified in document ZEK-01-08 to regulate 16 PAHs. The provision took into force on 1 April 2008.

To comply with new requirements for PAHs, the German Committee for Technical Equipment and Consumer Products (Der Ausschuss für Technische Arbeitsmittel und Verbraucherprodukte, ATAV)’ agreed to include Benzo[j]fluoranthene and Benzo[e]pyrene (from 16 PAHs to 18 PAHs), applicable to the testing for all products. On 29 November 2007, German Security Technology Certification Center (Zentralstelle der Lander fur Sicherheitstechnik, ZLS) published a new standard ZEK 01.4-08 requiring GS mark certified products should be subject to 18 PAHs testing since 1 July 2012. Meanwhile, the products of which the GS Mark certificates were issued after 1 July 2012 should comply with new provisions in ZEK 01.4-08 (the previous version EK-01-08 went invalid since 30 June 2012).

The PAHs limits set forth in AfPS GS 2019:01 PAK are as follows: (Unit: mg/kg)

SN	Parameter	Abbr.	CAS No	Category 1	Category 2		Category 3
				Materials intended to be put in the mouth, or materials of toys with intended long-term skin contact (longer than 30s)	Materials not covered by category 1, with foreseeable skin contact for longer than 30 seconds (long-term skin contact) or repeated short-term contact		Materials not covered by Category 1or 2 with foreseeable skin contact up to 30 seconds (short-term skin contact)
					Toys in the scope of 2009/48/EC	Other products	Toys in the scope of 2009/48/EC	Other products
1	Benzo[a]pyrene	BaP	50-32-8	< 0.2	< 0.2	< 0.5	< 0.5	< 1
2	Benzo[e]pyrene	BeP	192-97-2	< 0.2	< 0.2	< 0.5	< 0.5	< 1
3	Benzo[a]anthracene	BaA	56-55-3	< 0.2	< 0.2	< 0.5	< 0.5	< 1
4	Benzo[b]fluoranthene	BbFA	205-99-2	< 0.2	< 0.2	< 0.5	< 0.5	< 1
5	Benzo[j]fluoranthene	BjFA	205-82-3	< 0.2	< 0.2	< 0.5	< 0.5	< 1
6	Benzo[k]fluoranthene	BkFA	207-08-9	< 0.2	< 0.2	< 0.5	< 0.5	< 1
7	Chrysene	CHR	218-01-9	< 0.2	< 0.2	< 0.5	< 0.5	< 1
8	Dibenzo[a,h]anthracene	DBA	53-70-3	< 0.2	< 0.2	< 0.5	< 0.5	< 1
9	Benzo[g,h,i]perylene	BghiP	191-24-2	< 0.2	< 0.2	< 0.5	< 0.5	< 1
10	Indeno[l,2,3-cd]pyrene	IND	193-39-5	< 0.2	< 0.2	< 0.5	< 0.5	< 1
14	Phenanthrene	PA	85-1-8	<1 Sum	< 5 Sum	< 10 Sum	< 20 Sum	< 50 Sum
15	Pyrene	Pyr	129-00-0
16	Anthracene	Ant	120-12-7
17	Fluoranthene	FL	206-44-0
18	Naphthalene	Nap	91-20-3	< 1	< 2		< 10
Sum of 15 PAHs				< 1	< 5	< 10	< 20	< 50

Scope:electrical and electronic equipment,rubber and plastic products, paints and coatings, electrical tools, packaging,toys, utensil materials, leather products and wood products.

[EU Standard] PAHs Testing

Extender oil offered for sale on the market or used for tyre production as set forth in 2005/69/EC and REACH Annex XVII shall comply with the following requirements:

• The polycyclic aromatics (PCA) extract is less than 3 % by weight as measured by the Institute of Petroleum standard IP 346:1998.
• The new test method EN 16143:2013 will supersede the existing method IP 346 until 23 September 2016.

Tyres and tyre parts regulatory compliance:

• The vulcanised rubber compounds do not exceed the limit of 0,35 % Bay protons as measured and calculated by ISO 21461.

Scope:automobiles, tyre and rubber industries. Materials of high concern include carbon black, film, reclaimed rubber and rubber oil.

Notice:The requirements for tyres, rubber extender oil and reclaimed tyres set forth in REACH Regulation shall apply since 1 January 2010.

【OEKO-TEX®standard 100】

OEKO-TEX®standard 100 primarily specifies for limits of 24 PAHs in textiles and leather articles:

C&K Testing can provide professional testing and analysis for PAHs as per the standards of different countries and regions. Besides, we can render you one-stop solutions integrating consulting, testing and certification. Please feel free to contacttest@cirs-group.comif any question.