Total Cadmium Content Test - EUROPEAN Directive 91/338/EEC

Due to the cumulative effect of heavy metal cadmium, which can cause environmental pollution and harm human health, the European Union has begun implementing a measure to limit the use of cadmium and conduct research on alternatives. Especially in polyvinyl chloride, pigments containing cadmium cannot be used for dyeing.

The European Community has adopted the Cadmium Directive (91/338/EEC) to restrict the use of cadmium in pigments, dyes, regulators, and electroplating. This instruction states that the allowable content of cadmium in consumer goods, plastics, or paint shall not exceed 100mg/kg (PPM). The goal of this instruction is to avoid the diffusion of cadmium in the environment. Cadmium is difficult to biodegrade and accumulates in the soil for centuries before being absorbed by plants and ultimately consumed by humans through the food chain.

Directive 91/338/EEC stipulates the following:

Cadmium and its compounds with a content greater than 0.01% (100PPM) cannot be used to dye the following substances and their final products: polyvinyl chloride PVC; Polyurethane; Low density polyethylene (ld PE), excluding vinyl chloride used to produce colorants; Cellulose acetate (CA); Cellulose acetate butyrate (CAB); Epoxy resin; Melamine formaldehyde resin (MF); Urea formaldehyde resin (UF); Unsaturated polyester (UP); Polyethylene terephthalate (PET); Polybutylene terephthalate (PBT); Transparent/universal polystyrene; Acrylonitrile methyl methacrylate (AMMA); Crosslinked polyethylene (VPE); Impact resistant polystyrene; Polypropylene (PP).

If the cadmium content in the above substances exceeds 0.01% of the mass of plastic materials, they cannot be put on the market.

Paint: The content of cadmium dye in the paint should not exceed 0.01% of the total mass. But if the zinc content in the coating is also high, the cadmium concentration can be relaxed to 0.1% while keeping it as low as possible.

Cadmium and its compounds with a content greater than 0.01% (100PPM) cannot be used as stabilizers to stabilize the following end products produced from copolymers or polymers of vinyl chloride: packaging materials (bags, containers, bottles, lids); Office or school supplies; Installation for furniture and cars; Clothing or clothing accessories (including gloves); The intermediate layer of the floor or wall; Coated and filled layered textile fabrics; Artificial leather; Phonograph, disc; Conduits and their accessories; Rotating door; Road transport vehicles (inside and outside the carriage, under the carriage); Coating of steel billets for industrial or construction purposes; Wire insulation layer.

If the cadmium content of the above products exceeds 0.01% of the polymer mass, they cannot be put on the market for sale.