Table 2 Potential contaminants in products and their origins
From: How should we deal with the interfaces between chemicals, product and waste legislation?
Origins of potential contaminants in products | Types | Examples |
|---|---|---|
Case I: contaminant is regularly present in one or more (primary) raw materials | Toxic metals in commodity metals | Traces of Cd in Zn metals and alloys |
Actinoids in minerals | Uranium salts in phosphate rock (phosphorites) | |
Pesticide residues | Food | |
Plastic particles (“microplastics”) | Textiles | |
Case II: contaminant has been used as additive to the final product | Plasticisers | DEHP in soft PVC |
Flame retardants | PBDEs in hard plastics, HBCD in polystyrene | |
Stabilisers for plastics | Cd stearate in PVC | |
Pigments | Lead pigments in pottery | |
Case III: “in situ” formed contaminants | Thermodynamically stable molecules formed during manufacturing at high temperature | Polychlorinated dioxins and dibenzofurans, PAHs (see also Additional file 1: S4) |
Case IV: contaminant originating from the application/use phase | Decomposition products | Ageing phenomena of soft PVC |
Degradation products | Mycotoxins from rotten food (residues …) | |
Adhesive contaminants | Lubricants on metals | |
Chemicals added during use | Inks in printed paper |