Heavy Metals in Packagings

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 50 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 1999 to 30 June 2001, the sum of the concentrations of the 4 heavy metals must not exceed 250 ppm.

From 30 June 2001 the threshold limit value is 100 ppm.

The threshold limit value of 250 ppm is exceeded in 15 cases.

The coming threshold limit value of 100 ppm is exceeded in 38 cases.

The exceeding of the threshold limit values 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.