Overview
EN ISO 16181-1:2021 - Footwear - Part 1: Determination of phthalate with solvent extraction - is a CEN-endorsed ISO test method for the qualitative and quantitative determination of phthalates in footwear and footwear components. The standard defines a laboratory procedure based on solvent extraction (toluene) followed by analysis with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC‑MS). It updates and supersedes the earlier ISO/TS 16181:2011, expanding the list of target phthalates and clarifying method performance and reporting.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Scope: Detection and quantification of phthalate compounds in footwear materials; method can be validated for additional phthalates beyond those listed in Annex A.
- Extraction principle: Ultrasonic solvent extraction using toluene at 60 °C for 1 hour (with THF as an alternative for some materials). An alternative extraction procedure is provided for PVC materials.
- Analysis: Extract aliquots are analysed by GC‑MS; Annex C provides suitable GC‑MS apparatus and detection limit guidance.
- Reagents & standards: Specifies analytical-grade solvents (toluene, THF, acetone, methanol, etc.) and internal standards (examples: DEHP-d4, diphenylphthalate); notes on internal standard selection and potential interferences (e.g., DEHP resolution considerations).
- Calibration & results: Method requires calibration solutions, calibration curve construction (Clause 9), expression of individual phthalate concentrations and summed results where requested, and method performance verification (interlaboratory data in Annex D).
- Documentation: Test report requirements are defined (Clause 10). Safety warning regarding hazardous materials and laboratory precautions is included.
Applications and who uses it
EN ISO 16181-1:2021 is intended for:
- Footwear manufacturers performing material screening and quality control.
- Third‑party testing laboratories conducting compliance testing for chemical content.
- Regulatory bodies and product conformity assessors requiring standardized test data for market surveillance.
- Use cases include product safety checks, supplier qualification, raw material evaluation, and supporting regulatory compliance or internal chemical-risk assessments.
Related standards
Keywords: EN ISO 16181-1:2021, phthalates in footwear, solvent extraction, toluene extraction, GC‑MS footwear testing, footwear chemical testing, phthalate determination, standard test method.
