A mapping of products and material used within live role-play
5 Laboratory analyses
A small group of products was chosen for a closer examination:
- Wine skins
- Skin glue
- Liquid latex
- Foam plastic
- Masks
The analyses were carried out by Eurofins A/S in the fall of 2006. Their report is encloses as annex B.
5.1 Results
Below is a short summary of the analyses. We refer to annex B for further details.
5.1.1 Wine skins
Wine skins are a popular accessory. The interview role-play dealers have estimated that annual sales are around 3-4000 wine skins, but sales could be bigger, since this commodity is more widely sold than others.
A wine skin consists of a container wrapped in skin. The product is chosen in order to investigate what the water-proof container is made of.
The material was identified as being PVC softened with the phthalate DEHP. By determination in duplicate, the content of DEHP is determined be 22-25% (in weight).
5.1.2 Skin glue
As part of the getup, artificial latex ears are often glued to ones own ears. Annual sales are estimated to be around 15.000 artificial ears. There are many varieties of glues for this. Some come in the packet with the ears. The glue that was examined was found in one such packet. The glue was examined for solvents, VOC and SVOC.
Table 1: Results of the analysis for solvents, VOC and SVOC. The unit is mg/kg. The two results of solvent make the determination in duplicate
| Detection limit | Glue | ||
| A | B | ||
| Ethyl acetate | 500 | 1.700 | 1.700 |
| Ethanol | 500 | 350.000 | 340.000 |
| Acetone | 500 | 770 | 740 |
| 1,1-Diethoxyethan* | 50 | 64 | |
| Alpha-pinen | 50 | 2.600 | |
| Beta-pinen* | 50 | 460 | |
| Limonen (terpen) | 50 | 1.500 | |
| Diethyl succinate* | 50 | 65 | |
| Alpha-terpineol* | 50 | 59 | |
| Triethelynglykol* | 50 | 150 | |
| Bornyl acetate* | 50 | 57 | |
| Sesquiterpener | 50 | 750 | |
| Diethyl phthalate | 50 | 170 | |
| Unidentified terpene group | 50 | 22.000 | |
| Ethyl palmitate* | 50 | 72 | |
| Ethyl linoleat* | 50 | 210 | |
| Ethyl oleat* | 50 | 89 | |
*as closest identification possible. Calculated as toluene.
According to the results of the analysis displayed in table 1, 3 different solvents were detected: ethyl acetate, ethanol and acetone. Apart from this, 14 VOC/SVOC variant above the detection limit were detected.
5.1.3 Liquid latex
The main material in the production of weapon (and home-made equipment) is latex (natural latex). The basic form of the weapon is covered with latex, which is sold in liquid form. This is done by painting it of dipping the weapon in the latex, leaving it to dry and repeat the process a few times in order to obtain an adequately thick layer, as when dipping candles.
The latex products we have seen most frequently were based on the same basic product from Thailand containing, among other things, ammonia. The product is decanted into ones own containers by the dealers. Other latex products are sole with a lower content of ammonia. Annual sales are around 3000 litres.
Though a simulation test, it was examined what a person inhales when standing close to a container with liquid latex (e.g. during application to a sword).
Test of 2 different latex products, with allegedly different contents of ammonia, were conducted.
The air in the breathing zone was analysed for ammonia, nitrosamines and the organic substances VOC and SVOC.
Figure 15: Testing latex
Tabel 2: Resultats for ammonia, nitrosamines and VOC/SVOC. The unit is µg/m3.
| Detection limit | Latex A | Latex B | |
| Ammonia | 3 | 5.500 | 520 |
| N-Nitrosodimethylamin | 0,03 | < 0,03 | < 0,03 |
| N-Nitrosomethylethylamin | 0,03 | < 0,03 | < 0,03 |
| N-Nitrosodiethylamin | 0,03 | < 0,03 | < 0,03 |
| N-Nitrosodipropylamin | 0,03 | < 0,03 | < 0,03 |
| N-Nitrosodibutylamin | 0,03 | < 0,03 | < 0,03 |
| N-Nitrosopiperidin | 0,03 | < 0,03 | < 0,03 |
| N-Nitrosopyrrolidin | 0,03 | < 0,03 | < 0,03 |
| N-Nitrosomorpholin | 0,03 | < 0,03 | < 0,03 |
| Ethanol | 2 | 9,0 | - |
| Ethyl acetate | 2 | - | 4,4 |
| Toluen | 2 | 7,0 | - |
| n-Butyl acetate | 2 | 9,6 | 16 |
< Less than the detection limit
- not detected
The results of the analysis, as displayed in table 2, shows that there is a considerable difference in the vapour of ammonia in the two latex samples (factor 10), while nitrosamines were not detected in the air. In both sample A and B, small amount of various VOCs/SVOCs were detected.
5.1.4 Foam plastic
Foam plastic is used to form the basic shape of the weapon. Typically, a sleeping pad is used, which is cut to the right size and glued together around the glass-fibre core and the wood handle. Different varieties of foam plastic is used, primarily PE- containing plastic.
Figure 16: Testing of foam plastic
Through a simulation test, it was examined to which extent a person would be exposed to slip when hand sanding foam plastic with fine sand paper. The test showed, however, that the slip did not rise to the air, but dropped to the table. No considerable amount of slip was detected in the breathing zone.
5.1.5 Masks
There are various types of masks on the market that are pulled over your face. According to the users, they are soon very warm to wear and the sweat pours down your face. The masks are made of latex, which has been coloured. Annual sales are around 1000 rubber masks and a corresponding number of rubber helmets.
Through a simulation test where substances were released to artificial sweat, it was examined to what extend a person is exposed to MBT and VOC/SVOC from cast-solid latex masks that are worn during role playing.
2 different masks were tested – one produced in Demark, one in China. No migration MBT and VOC/SVOC was detected in any of the masks.
5.2 Health evaluation
It is not the aim of this project to perform a health evaluation of the found results. The Danish Environmental Protection Agency will on the basis of the results of the mapping decide to what extend it is necessary to conduct further investigations and to conduct a health evaluation of the results.
Version 1.0 August 2007, © Danish Environmental Protection Agency