PAHs in consumer products must be reduced as much as possible

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are complex mixtures of organic compounds that are often found as environmental pollutants. In 2005, the German Stiftung Warentest (a product testing NGO) had detected high levels of PAHs in some tool handles and cable sheaths [1]. To reduce the health risks, guidance values for technically unavoidable PAH levels were proposed for manufacturers to comply on a voluntary basis. The Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) was asked to assess these guidance values and the occurrence of PAHs in consumer products. In the spring of 2009 TÜV Rheinland examined the PAH concentrations in various products like tool handles, beach sandals and ball horns from do-it-yourself stores and low budget stores. The result: in some cases the guidance values are still considerably exceeded in the consumer products examined for PAHs. According to the knowledge currently available, the BfR must assume that defective products are still being marketed. Such products do not comply with good manufacturing practice and constitute a risk for human health. In general, manufacturers should reduce PAH concentrations in their products as much as possible since no threshold values can be given for some PAHs below which health risks can be excluded. In order to protect consumers from health risks, BfR proposes the setting of statutory limit values for PAHs and BaP. Compliance should be a precondition for the marketability of consumer products that come into contact with the skin