What Is Phthalates?
Phthalate analysis is the determination of the amount of phthalate esters used as plasticizers in PVC printing, coating or plastic components. The sample is extracted with the appropriate solvent and measured by GC-MS.
Purpose of Phthalates
The aim is to determine whether phthalates restricted under REACH Annex XVII are present in the product above the limit. The restriction is particularly strict on children's products and mouthable items.
Which Products Is Phthalates Applied To?
- PVC printed t-shirts and textiles
- Coated fabrics and oilcloth
- Children's clothing and baby products
- Raincoat and faux leather products
- Textiles with plastic accessories
In Which Sectors Is Phthalates Used?
Standards Related to Phthalates
- TS EN ISO 14389 (tekstilde ftalat tayini — GC-MS)
- EN 14372 / EN 71-3 (applications within the scope of children's products)
- CPSC-CH-C1001 (US market)
- EN 71-1Mechanical and physical properties in toys test
- EN 71-2oyuncaklarda yanabilirlik test
- EN 71-3migration of certain elements in toys test
Phthalates Conditions
- Extraction
- With a suitable organic solvent, under the conditions defined in the standard
- Measurement
- GC-MS
- Unit
- percent by mass or mg/kg
Equipment for Phthalates
- GC-MS
- Soxhlet or ultrasonic extraction device
- Analytical balance
- Rotary evaporator
Sample Requirements for Phthalates
- Plastic/printing area should be sampled separately
- Fabric and printing are analyzed separately
- Approximately 0.5–1 g of sample
- Phthalate is a common laboratory contaminant; The sample should not come into contact with plastic packaging
Duration of Phthalates
The extraction and GC-MS measurement determine the analysis duration; results are typically available within a few working days.
Phthalates Procedure
- 1The print or plastic component is separated from the fabric.
- 2The sample is weighed and extracted with a suitable solvent.
- 3The extract is filtered and concentrated.
- 4With GC-MS, phthalate esters are identified and quantified.
- 5The result is calculated as percent by mass or mg/kg.
Phthalates Acceptance Criteria
REACH Annex XVII articles 51 and 52 define limits by mass for restricted phthalates; The limit changes if the product is a child care item or a toy. The current list and limit are confirmed from the legislation text.
Evaluation of Results
Each phthalate is reported separately; The restriction is defined individually for some phthalates and in total for some. A low value measured in the fabric can mask a high value in the print zone — that's why the components are analyzed separately.
Phthalates Report
- Specimen identification and component analysed
- Standard applied
- Result and detection limit for each phthalate
- Regulatory limit compared against
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 authorisationsRelated Regulations
- (EC) 1907/2006 REACH Annex XVII articles 51 and 52
- 2009/48/EC Toy Safety Directive
Oyuncak Testleri — What Does This Testing Field Cover?
The section below describes the field that the Phthalates 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.
Toy testing shows that a product is safe in children's use. What sets this family apart is that risk is defined according to the USER: the same product may be hazardous for a child under 36 months and safe for an older child. Age marking is therefore not a marketing preference but a technical decision that determines which requirements apply, and it is justified in the technical file.
At the centre of the field is the risk of CHOKING. Children under 36 months put objects in their mouths; a part that detaches or is small to begin with can block the airway. Assessment with the small parts cylinder is the fundamental criterion for this group, and the tests examine whether the part detaches after use and misuse.
The logic of the tests is not that the toy must not break but that BREAKING must not produce a hazardous outcome. A child drops, pulls, bites and stands on a toy. Drop, tension, compression, torque, impact and tipping tests are therefore applied, and the resulting new state is then assessed: is the detached part a small part, did the broken surface leave a sharp edge, has the internal mechanism become accessible?
On the chemical axis, MIGRATION is what counts. What is measured in a toy is not how much of an element the material contains but how much of it dissolves and transfers under conditions simulating the mouth. Materials are divided into three categories (dry brittle powder, liquid or sticky, scrapable) and different limits apply to each; the amount of material a child could ingest varies by category.
Flammability is the third axis and is critical particularly for costumes, tents and plush toys: how quickly flame spreads across the surface is measured.
Electrical and battery-powered toys bring additional bodies of work: EN 62115 for electrical safety, the relevant battery standards and Battery Regulation obligations for the battery. For toys containing button cells, making the battery compartment impossible for a child to open has become a separate requirement — a swallowed button cell is a cause of serious injury.
Sound level is an item that is often overlooked. For toys used close to the ear (toy telephones, rattles, cap-firing toys) the sound pressure is limited; the risk of hearing damage is assessed.
Market regimes differ and do not substitute for one another: the Toy Safety Directive and CE marking in Europe, and in the United States the CPSIA with mandatory ASTM F963 and a third-party laboratory certificate (CPC). The United States also looks at total lead content while Europe looks at migration; the two approaches can produce different results.
Method groups in this field
Mechanical and physical
Small parts assessment, sharp edges and points, entrapment, cord and drawstring safety, dynamic strength, drop and tipping (EN 71-1).
Flammability
Rate of flame spread and ignition behaviour (EN 71-2); decisive for costumes and plush toys.
Element migration
Migration of specified elements in the three material categories (EN 71-3).
Organic chemicals
Phthalates, flame retardants, azo dyes, preservatives and fragrances (EN 71-9 and REACH restrictions).
Electrical toys
Electrical safety under EN 62115; heating, insulation, battery compartment and charging safety.
Sound and other
Sound pressure measurements; the requirements of EN 71-4 and EN 71-5 for chemistry sets and chemical toys.
Commonly confused in this field
- Toy safety cannot be demonstrated with a single standard; the mechanical, flammability and chemical parts are assessed together.
- Age marking determines which requirements apply; it must be justified in the technical file and not left to marketing preference.
- An ASTM F963 report is not accepted in a CE file; the requirements and test arrangements of the two regimes differ.
- Migration and total content are different things; the CPSIA looks at total lead while EN 71-3 looks at migration.
- If the material category is chosen incorrectly the limit is applied incorrectly too; the category decision is made before sample preparation.
- For toys containing button cells, battery compartment safety is a separate requirement; passing electrical safety is not sufficient.
Which decisions these results support
- CE marking and the technical file
- Determining age marking and warning texts
- The CPC certificate and mandatory third-party testing for the US market
- Supplier and lot-based acceptance control
- Determining the scope of retesting after a design change
Related Tests
Frequently Asked Questions About Phthalates
Do phthalates appear in unprinted fabric?
Unexpected; Phthalate is the plasticizer of the plastic matrix. The risk is in PVC printing, coating and plastic accessories. However, low levels due to contamination may still occur.