Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) are well-known to be hazardous for human health and the environment. Many of them  are classified as carcinogenic, mutagenic, and reprotoxic in the categories 1A, 1B, or 2 according to the CLP Regulation (EC 1272/2008). As very common environmental contaminants, PAHs can be found in a number of consumer products and are restricted due to their high concerns. 

8 PAHs are restricted in tyres/extender oils, articles supplied to the general public and children’s articles. The 8 PAHs are:

    1. Benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) CAS No 50-32-8
    2. Benzo[e]pyrene (BeP) CAS No 192-97-2
    3. Benzo[a]anthracene (BaA) CAS No 56-55-3
    4. Chrysen (CHR) CAS No 218-01-9
    5. Benzo[b]fluoranthene (BbFA) CAS No 205-99-2
    6. Benzo[j]fluoranthene (BjFA) CAS No 205-82-3
    7. Benzo[k]fluoranthene (BkFA) CAS No 207-08-9
    8. Dibenzo[a,h]anthracene (DBAhA) CAS No 53-70-3

 

ProductsLimit
Tyres and extender oils≤ 1 mg/kg BaP, or, ≤ 10 mg/kg  of the sum of all listed PAHs.

Articles supplied to the general public if any of their rubber or plastic components that come into direct as well as prolonged or short-term repetitive contact with the human skin or the oral cavity.

Example include:

    • sport equipment such as bicycles, golf clubs, racquets
    • household utensils, trolleys, walking frames
    • tools for domestic use
    • clothing, footwear, gloves and sportswear
    • watch-straps, wrist-bands, masks, head-bands  
≤ 1 mg/kg of any of the listed PAHs.

Toys and children’s articles

≤ 0.5 mg/kg of any of the listed PAHs.

 

In 2014, the Product Safety Commission (AfPS) in Germany has set the new requirements of PAH testing in the course of GS mark certification in AfPS GS 2014:01 PAK.

The Committee for Product Safety (AfPS) under the German Institute Occupational Safety and Health (BAuA) has released the new specification, AfPS GS 2019:01 PAK “Testing and Assessment of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the award of the GS mark.” To comply with the PAHs requirements for GS Mark Certification issued from July 1, 2020, the new specification AfPS GS 2019:01 PAK has to be followed. The previous version AfPS GS 2014:01 PAK can be used until Jun 30, 2020.

Major Changes

The number of PAHs restricted is reduced from 18 to 15:

    • Removes three PAHs – Acenaphthene, Fluorene, and Acenaphthylene 

 

Modify the classification:

    • Includes materials in articles for use by children up to three years of age with intended and prolong skin contact in Category 1
    • The lower limits in Category 2 and 3 is applied to product used by children under 14, except products have been included in Category 1

 

Download Bulletin PDF to view table with the PAH limits which remain the same as previous version.

Additional Information: Click to view the AfPS GS 2019:01 PAK (in German). 

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