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

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

Food Testing — 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.

Food testing shows that a product is safe for consumption and contains what its label states. The family works along three axes: microbiological safety, chemical safety and nutritional composition. All three require different laboratory infrastructure, a different body of methods and a different turnaround time.

The most distinctive feature of the field is TIME PRESSURE. A steel specimen can wait on a shelf; a raw milk or fresh meat sample cannot. The time the sample was taken, the transport temperature and how long it takes to reach the laboratory directly determine the validity of the result. In food microbiology the cold chain record is therefore an inseparable part of the test report.

On the microbiological side there are two different questions and they must not be confused. DETECTION of a pathogen is a qualitative question: is Salmonella present in the sample or not? ENUMERATION of indicator organisms is a quantitative question and an indicator of production hygiene. The absence of a pathogen in a product does not show that hygiene is good; if the total mesophilic aerobic count is high, there is a problem in the process.

On the chemical side, pesticide residues, mycotoxins, heavy metals, additives, veterinary drug residues and process contaminants (acrylamide, furan, PAH) are measured. Multi-residue methods in this area (QuEChERS-based LC-MS/MS and GC-MS/MS) can screen hundreds of active substances in a single analysis; limits are defined separately for each product–substance pair.

On the composition side, protein, fat, moisture, ash, fibre, sugar profile, fatty acid composition, vitamin and mineral content are determined. These values are the basis of the nutrition declaration on the label and the tolerance ranges are defined in legislation — the difference between the declared value and the measured value must stay within that tolerance.

There is NO CE marking on food, and this shapes how the field works. Conformity is demonstrated through operating a HACCP-based food safety system, complying with labelling rules and not exceeding contaminant, residue and microbiological limits. A test result produces evidence not for a certificate but for a functioning system.

Allergen management carries particular weight. The presence of an undeclared allergen in a product is one of the most frequent causes of food recalls. Analysis here runs together with cleaning validation: it is shown that the line has been cleaned adequately after a production run containing an allergen and that the risk of cross-contamination is under control.

Voluntary schemes have become effectively mandatory in this field. Retail chains require their suppliers to hold a certificate under a GFSI-recognised scheme (BRCGS, IFS, FSSC 22000); without it, getting onto the shelf is practically impossible.

Method groups in this field

Pathogen detection
Detection of Salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes, Campylobacter, Cronobacter and Shiga toxin-producing E. coli; culture-based and molecular methods.
Indicator counts
Total mesophilic aerobic count, Enterobacteriaceae, coliforms and E. coli, coagulase-positive staphylococci, yeasts and moulds, lactic acid bacteria, sulphite-reducing Clostridia.
Pesticide and veterinary residues
Multi-residue screening by LC-MS/MS and GC-MS/MS with QuEChERS extraction.
Mycotoxins and contaminants
Aflatoxins, ochratoxin A, deoxynivalenol, patulin; heavy metals (ICP-MS), acrylamide and PAH compounds.
Nutritional composition
Kjeldahl protein, fat and fatty acid profile, moisture, ash, dietary fibre, sugar profile, vitamin and mineral analyses.
Allergens and authenticity
Gluten, milk, egg, nut and soy allergen analyses; molecular methods for species identification and adulteration detection.

Commonly confused in this field

Sampling is half the result. A sample transported at the wrong temperature or delayed gives an invalid result even if it is analysed correctly in the laboratory.
The absence of a pathogen does not show that hygiene is good; indicator counts give separate information and the two are read together.
A result from a sample taken from a lot can be generalised to the whole lot only if the sampling plan was set up statistically.
Limits are defined in separate regulations by product group and are updated regularly; a conformity decision based on an outdated limit table may be wrong.
For exports, the limits of the destination country may differ from EU limits; the same product may be compliant in one market and non-compliant in another.

Which decisions these results support

Verification of the HACCP plan and process monitoring
The basis for the nutrition declaration and allergen information on the label
Health certificates before export and compliance with destination market limits
Supplier and lot-based acceptance control
Shelf-life studies and determining storage conditions
Producing evidence for audits under GFSI-recognised schemes

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.