Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry determination of the migration of phthalate plasticisers from polyvinyl chloride toys and childcare articles

Two laboratory-based linear horizontal agitation methods for determining a range of phthalate esters from soft polyvinyl chloride (PVC) toys are presented in compliance with EU legislation. Both of these methods were validated through interlaboratory trials using a PVC reference disc and four soft PVC toy/childcare articles intended or likely to be mouthed. Two of these commercial samples contained diisononyl phthalate (DINP), one diisodecyl phthalate (DIDP) and one bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP). Acceptable repeatability (r, within-laboratory) and reproducibility (R, between-laboratory) data were demonstrated for both the analytical detection technique (GC–MS) (r=9.8% and R=8.1%) and agitation/extraction procedure (r=21.9% and R=35.3% at 37 °C; r=22.7% and R=31.1% at 65 °C) for DINP. This was achieved through the participation of six laboratories. The remaining three phthalates from the EU Scientific Committee for Toxicity, Ecotoxicity and the Environment (CSTEE) list—dibutyl phthalate (DBP), benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP) and di-n-octyl phthalate (DnOP)—were not tested due to the unavailability of suitable materials.