Performance Comparison of Material Tests for Cadmium and Lead in Food Contact Plastics

Based on the Japanese Food Sanitation Law, the performances of official and alternative material test methods for cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) in food contact plastics were compared. Nineteen laboratories participated to an interlaboratory study, and quantified Cd and Pb in three PVC pellets. in the official method, a sample is digested with H2SO4, taken up in HCl, and evaporated to dryness on a water bath, then measured by atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) or inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). Statistical treatment revealed that the trueness, repeatability (RSDr) and reproducibility (RSDr) were 86-95%, 3.1-9.4% and 8.6-22.1%, respectively. The values of the performance parameters fulfilled the requirements , and the performances met the test specifications. The combination of evaporation to dryness on a hot plate and measurement by AAS or ICP-OES is applicable as an alternative method. However, the trueness and RSDr were inferior to those of the official method. The performance parameters obtained by using the microwave digestion method (MW method) to prepare test solution were better than those of the official method. Thus, the MW method is available as an alternative method. Induced coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) is also available as an alternative method. However, it is necessary to ensure complete digestion of the sample.