Investigations on the emission of fragrance allergens from scented toys by means of headspace solid-phase microextraction gas chromatography–mass spectrometry

In the revised European toy safety directive 2009/48/EC the application of fragrance allergens in childrenʹs toys is restricted. The focus of the present work lies on the instrumental analytics of 13 banned fragrance allergens, as well as on 11 fragrance allergens that require declaration when concentrations surpass 100 μg per gram material. Applying a mixture of ethyl acetate and toluene solid/liquid extraction was performed prior to quantitative analysis of mass contents of fragrances in scented toys. In addition, an easy-to-perform method for the determination of emitted fragrances at 23 °C (handling conditions) or at 40 °C (worst case scenario) has been worked out to allow for the evaluation of potential risks originating from inhalation of these compounds during handling of or playing with toys. For this purpose a headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) technique was developed and coupled to subsequent gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) analysis. Fragrance allergens were adsorbed (extracted) from the gas phase onto an 85 μm polyacrylate fiber while incubating pieces of the scented toys in sealed headspace vials at 23 °C and 40 °C. Quantification of compounds was performed via external calibration. The newly developed headspace method was subsequently applied to five perfumed toys. As expected, the emission of fragrance allergens from scented toys depends on the temperature and on the content of fragrance allergens present in those samples. In particular at conditions mimicking worst case (40 °C), fragrance allergens in toys may pose a risk to children since considerable amounts of compound might be absorbed by lung tissue via breathing of contaminated air.