1. Total Lead Content Testing Introduction

In recent years, the CPSC recall cases have frequently involved products with excessive lead content. Lead is widely used in various daily consumer products such as toys, children's jewelry, packaging materials, food containers, ceramic products, furniture, stationery, metal accessories, etc., which are closely related to people's lives. Excessive lead can have significant impacts on human health and the environment. For example, if accumulated in children's blood at high levels, it can affect children's IQ. To ensure human health and reduce pollution caused by lead accumulation in the environment, countries worldwide have successively issued corresponding regulations or standards to control lead content in products at safe levels.

According to current international standards, the generally accepted safe standard for blood lead levels should not exceed 10-14 micrograms per liter. Long-term exposure to lead compounds or inhalation of lead dust can cause varying degrees of "lead poisoning" (serum lead concentration greater than 40μg per 100ml). Excessive inhalation by humans can harm the nervous system, heart, and respiratory system, leading to different degrees of lead poisoning. Lead in the human body can combine with various enzymes, thereby interfering with multiple physiological activities and causing harm to organs throughout the body. Children have a much higher chance of lead poisoning than adults.

2. Total Lead Content Test Limits

1) According to the US CPSIA "2008 Consumer Product Improvement Act," after February 10, 2009, ASTM F963 became a mandatory standard, reducing the lead content limit in lead-containing paint to 90ppm (although this requirement has been temporarily suspended by the CPSC, producers are still obligated to meet the limit requirement);

2) According to a bill proposed by the Canadian government in June 2009, the lead content limit in consumer products that may come into contact with the mouth (including parts designed for children under 3 years old that can be put in the mouth) was changed from 600ppm to 90ppm;

3) According to the US CPSIA "2008 Consumer Product Improvement Act," after February 10, 2009, the total lead content limit was 600ppm; after August 14, 2009, the total lead content limit became 300ppm; after August 14, 2011, the total lead content limit is 100ppm.