Volatile Substances in Polymer Toys Made from Butadiene and Styrene

Abstract

The residual levels and migration behavior of volatile substances were detected using HS-GC/MS for acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer (ABS) toys, thermoplastic elastomer toys, and rubber toys made from 1,3-butadiene and styrene found on the Japanese market. The maximum residual level of these volatile substances was 2600 μg/g of styrene in ABS toys. In particular, the levels of known carcinogens 1,3-butadiene, benzene, and acrylonitrile are 5.3, 2.5 and 55 μg/g, which are much lower than the EU limit of 0.1%. Furthermore, some volatile substances migrated from ABS toys into water in amounts of 3 -40 ng/mL. Thermoplastic elastomer toys and rubber toys contained these volatile substances at significantly lower levels than ABS toys.

Investigation of volatile low molecular weight compounds formed during continuous reclaiming of ground tire rubber

“…In this group of compounds: benzene, toluene, m-xylene, p-xylene, benzaldehyde, 2-methylbenzaldehyde and 1-(4-ethylphenyl)-ethanone were identified. These volatile organic compounds are also characteristic for polystyrene and styrene copolymers [32,33]. The absence of styrene in detected compounds is surprising.…”

The emissions of monoaromatic hydrocarbons from small polymeric toys placed in chocolate food products

“…In the case of children's toys with structural components made of polyamide (PA), benzene emission was higher by 45%, toluene by 32%, and p,mxylene by 79%. The release of organic compounds from the BTEX group at elevated temperature from the tested children's toys may result from the fact that these types of monoaromatic hydrocarbon compounds are used as solvents in toy manufacture, or are present in the used basic raw material (polymer) as an impurity formed during manufacturing (Abe et al, 2013;Lattuati-Derieux et al, 2013;Necemer et al, 2013).…”

“…Two other major substrates to produce acrylonitrile butadiene styrene polymer are 1,3-butadiene and acrylonitrile. The release of styrene into the internal environment from the materials made of ABS copolymer is due to the presence of styrene monomer in the final product, which did not react with the remaining organic compounds in the production of the polymer (Abe et al, 2013).…”

“…Specific groups of products made of plastics, in terms of the type of consumers, and used in residential environments, are children's toys (Noguerol-Cal et al, 2011). As the basic substances in children's toy production various kinds of plastics are applied, such as polypropylene (PP), low or high density polyethylene (LDPE or HDPE), polystyrene (PS), polyamide (PA), and acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer (ABS) (Godoi et al, 2011;Abe et al, 2013). The final product, which is a children's toy, is very often made of a single type of polymer, but it may be a product composed of various types of polymers and additives for improving the esthetic and functional advantages, for example fillers, coloring agents (pigments, dyes), and plasticizers.…”

“…According to existing literature, the presence of VOCs in children's toys results from the occurrence of unreacted monomers (1,3-butadiene, styrene, acrylonitrile) and solvents (their purity) used in the polymer production e.g. toluene, ethylbenzene, isopropylbenzene, propylbenzene (Abe et al, 2013(Abe et al, , 2014.…”