Heavy Metal Analysis — EN 16711 / ISO 17072 / EN 71-3 / ICP-MS · Environmental Analysis

What Is Heavy Metals?

Heavy metal analysis is the determination of the concentration of elements such as lead, cadmium, mercury, arsenic, chromium and nickel in the sample. Measurement is done by ICP-OES or ICP-MS; The decisive factor is the sample preparation step and this step varies depending on the matrix. IN TEXTILES artificial sweat extractable (EN 16711-2) or total (EN 16711-1) metal is measured. IN SKIN ISO 17072 makes the same distinction. IN TOYS EN 71-3 yields metal that migrates from mouthable materials under stomach acid-like conditions. In FOOD, the total element content is determined, and in ENVIRONMENT samples, the concentration in water, soil and waste is determined.

Purpose of Heavy Metals

The aim is to determine whether the risk posed by the heavy metals contained in the product through skin contact, ingestion or release into the environment remains within the limits of the legislation.

Which Products Is Heavy Metals Applied To?

Dyed and printed textiles, baby and children's clothing
Leather shoes, bags and clothing
Toys and child care items
Food products and food contact materials
cosmetic products
Wastewater, drinking water, soil and waste samples

In Which Sectors Is Heavy Metals Used?

TextilesRetailConsumer ProductsLeatherFootwearToyFoodCosmeticsEnvironment

Standards Related to Heavy Metals

TS EN 16711-1 (textile — total metal content, microwave decomposition)
TS EN 16711-2 (tekstil — yapay asidik terle ekstrakte edilebilir metaller)
TS EN 16711-3 (textile — lead and cadmium restriction)
TS EN ISO 17072-1 / -2 (skin — extractable and total metal)
TS EN 71-3 (toy — migration of certain elements)
TS EN 1811 (nickel release in metal accessories)
TS EN 13804 / 13805 (food — element determination and pressure solubilization)
TS EN ISO 17294-2 (water — element determination by ICP-MS)
TS EN 13657 / ISO 11466 (soil and waste — solubilization)

Heavy Metals Conditions

Textiles and leather: Extraction with acidic sweat solution or acid solubilization in microwave
Toy: Migration test in dilute hydrochloric acid medium defined in EN 71-3
food and environment: Pressurized microwave solubilization; direct measurement in water samples
Measurement: ICP-OES or ICP-MS; cold steam technique if necessary for mercury
Unit: mg/kg veya µg/L

Equipment for Heavy Metals

ICP-OES / ICP-MS
Microwave digestion system
Cold vapor/hydride system (for mercury and arsenic)
Water bath and shaker
Analytical balance and mill

Sample Requirements for Heavy Metals

Separate sample for each colour, component and matrix
Metal accessories should be evaluated separately
Each material category in the toy is a separate sample
To avoid metal contamination, the sample should not be cut with metal tools.
Water samples should be sent in a suitable container and protected with acid if necessary.

Duration of Heavy Metals

Sample preparation (extraction or solubilization) and ICP measurement determine the time; Results are usually available within a few business days. As the number of elements and matrix complexity increases, the time increases.

Heavy Metals Procedure

1The sample is separated by matrix and component, ground or cut, and weighed.
2In extractable/migration analysis, it is extracted with the solution defined in the standard.
3In total analysis, it is solubilized with acid in the microwave.
4The solution is filtered and diluted.
5Internal standard is added and ICP and elemental concentrations are measured.
6The result is calculated in the unit appropriate to the matrix.

Heavy Metals Acceptance Criteria

Acceptance criteria vary depending on the matrix and target market: in textiles and leather, REACH Annex The limit to be applied is determined according to the scope of the product and is confirmed from the current text.

Evaluation of Results

Total, extractable and migration results are not interchangeable: in a product with a high total content, the extractable amount may remain below the limit. Which one the specification requires and which limit it is compared to is clearly stated in the report.

Heavy Metals Report

Sample description, matrix and analyzed components
Applied standard and sample preparation method
Result and limit of quantification for each element
Knowledge of measurement technique and internal standards
Compared limit value and its source

Accreditation

EUROLAB holds internationally recognised accreditation obtained from accreditation bodies party to the IAF and ILAC multilateral recognition arrangements, under ISO/IEC 17025 for laboratory testing, ISO/IEC 17020 for inspection and surveillance, and ISO/IEC 17021-1 and ISO/IEC 17065 for system and product certification. This chain ensures the reports and certificates issued are accepted worldwide.

Whether this test can be offered within accredited scope depends on your product and the standard applied; since accreditation is method-based, the scope is confirmed in writing at the quotation stage.

Scope and authorisations

Related Regulations

(EC) 1907/2006 REACH Annex XVII
2009/48/EC Toy Safety Directive
(EU) Regulation 2023/915 on Maximum Levels of Contaminants in Food
(EC) 1223/2009 Cosmetic Products Regulation

Environmental Analysis — What Does This Testing Field Cover?

The section below describes the field that the Heavy Metals test belongs to; the conditions and acceptance criteria of this particular test are given in the sections above. The scope specific to your product is confirmed in writing at the quotation stage.

Environmental analysis determines the presence and concentration of pollutants in water, soil, waste, air and flue gas samples. The output of this family is usually part of a permit, a declaration or an inspection file; the result has direct legal consequences.

In this family SAMPLING is half the result, and this is the feature that most sets the field apart. A sample taken at the wrong time, in the wrong container, under the wrong preservation or from the wrong point gives an invalid result no matter how well it is analysed in the laboratory. In waste water a grab sample and a composite sample give different information; in soil, surface and depth produce different results. Sampling therefore has its own standards and its own accreditation scope.

On the water side, physico-chemical parameters (pH, conductivity, turbidity, COD, BOD, suspended solids), ions, heavy metals, organic pollutants and microbiological parameters are measured. Drinking water and waste water carry different parameter sets and different limits; the same laboratory method leads to a different decision under the two regimes.

In soil and waste, heavy metals, hydrocarbons, PAH and PCB compounds and LEACHING BEHAVIOUR are determined. The leaching test carries a logic peculiar to this field: it is not the total amount of a pollutant in soil but the fraction that can pass into water that determines the environmental risk. Waste classification and the disposal decision rest largely on this test.

On the emissions side, dust, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, oxygen, moisture and total organic carbon are monitored in flue gas. Measurement is made on site under operating conditions and must represent the plant's actual operating regime; a measurement taken at low load does not show the emissions at full capacity.

Continuous measurement systems are a separate body of work. In large plants emissions are monitored continuously and the accuracy of these systems is verified periodically by comparison with independent measurements; the quality assurance framework governs this.

Noise and vibration measurements complete the environmental impact side of the field: environmental noise mapping, workplace noise exposure and vibration exposure measurements produce evidence for both environmental and occupational health legislation.

Method groups in this field

Sampling
Separate sampling standards for water, waste water, soil, waste, flue gas and ambient air; grab, composite and continuous sampling techniques.
Water physico-chemical
pH, conductivity, turbidity, colour, suspended solids, COD, BOD, TOC, alkalinity, nitrogen and phosphorus species.
Elemental analysis
Determination of heavy metals and trace elements in water, soil and waste by ICP-OES and ICP-MS.
Organic pollutants
Volatile organic compounds, PAH, PCB and organochlorine pesticides by GC-MS; hydrocarbon oil index.
Flue gas
Measurement of dust, SO2, NOx, CO, O2, moisture and total gaseous organic carbon; quality assurance of automated measuring systems.
Leaching and waste characterisation
Leaching tests and waste classification parameters; the basis for the disposal decision.

Commonly confused in this field

An analytical result cannot be used on its own without the sampling record; the time, point, conditions and chain of custody are part of the report.
Total content and leachable amount give different information; in waste classification, leaching behaviour is what counts.
Emission measurement must be made under representative operating conditions of the plant; a result taken at partial load is misleading.
Drinking water and waste water limits are defined in different legislation; the same parameter carries a different threshold under the two regimes.
A sample from a single point does not represent the whole area; assessment of a contaminated site requires a grid-based sampling plan.

Which decisions these results support

Compliance with environmental permits and discharge limits
Quality assurance of continuous emission measurement systems
Contaminated site assessment and the remediation decision
Waste classification and selection of the disposal method
Workplace exposure measurements and occupational health obligations

Related Tests

Frequently Asked Questions About Heavy Metals

Is nickel included in this scope?

Nickel release is a separate test (EN 1811) and applies to metal parts in direct prolonged contact with the skin. Accessories such as zippers, snaps and buttons are evaluated separately from fabric or leather.

Should I ask for total or extractable?

If skin contact risk is assessed, extractable method is the right question. Some legislative provisions, such as the lead and cadmium restriction, are defined in terms of total content; Whatever your specification requires is applied.

Can the textile result be used for toys?

Not available. EN 71-3 measures metal migrating under stomach acid-like conditions and defines different limits depending on the material category. The result of sweat extraction taken for textile does not indicate the suitability of the toy.

Is the total chrome result the same as chrome VI?

It is not. Heavy metal analysis gives total chromium and this alone is not a non-compliance. Hexavalent chromium (Cr VI) is restricted in leather and is measured separately by ISO 17075.