Heavy Metals in Packagings - Check Analyses 1998

4. Conclusion

To follow up on project 349 of the Danish Environmental Protection Agency: Survey of the Content of Heavy Metal in Packagings on the Danish Market 3 metal and 49 glass packagings have been analysed.

In the Packaging Directive (94/62) threshold limit values for the sum of the concentration levels of lead, cadmium, mercury and hexavalent chromium have been laid down.

During the period from 30 June 1998 to 30 June 1999, the sum of the concentrations of the 4 heavy metals must not exceed 600 ppm.

During the period from 30 June 1999 to 30 June 2001, the threshold limit value is 250 ppm.

The threshold limit value of 600 ppm is exceeded in one case.

The coming threshold limit value of 250 ppm is exceeded in eight cases.

The exceeding of the threshold limit values, which - in all cases - has been found in the glass packagings, has merely been assessed on the basis of the lead content. The values found for chromium is the total content of which the share of Cr(VI) is low.