Plastic production has sharply increased over the last 70 years, from 2 million tons in 1950 to over 450 million tons annually. Plastic products are complex mixtures containing tens of thousands of chemicals, including base polymers, fillers, and additives such as plasticizers, flame retardants, and fragrances. Many of these chemicals pose potential health risks, especially to young children. Some children’s products are made using recycled e-waste plastics, which can contain restricted compounds such as PBDE flame retardants linked to lower IQ, learning and behavioral disorders, and ADHD in children. The rise of e-commerce further complicates chemical safety, as an increasing share of toys are purchased online, many of which fail to comply with EU safety regulations.
 
Analytical methods for the determination of chemicals in plastic materials are often poorly described and lack standardization, making it necessary to develop robust methods for the accurate quantification of hazardous substances. The developed methods will not only be applicable to children’s plastic products but can also be used for a wide range of polymeric materials, including construction products, electronics, automotive parts, packaging materials, and others.
The main activities of this project will be: to test potential analytical methods targeting plastic additives on a range of plastic product types and polymers. The outcome should support the recommendation of a final method targeting a wide set of additive chemicals, based on evaluation of recoveries, limits of detection, accuracy and repeatability.