Chromium VI in toys

WG on Chromium VI in Toys
SCHER members: Renate Krätke (Chair and Rapporteur), María José Carroquino, Greet Schoeters, Raquel Duarte-Davidson, Teresa Fernandez
Contact: SANCO-C2-SCHERec [dot] europa [dot] eu (SANCO-C2-SCHER[at]ec[dot]europa[dot]eu)
On request from: European Commission
Doi: 10.2772/41993
Adopted on: 22 January 2015

Content of the opinion:

The European Commission mandated the Scientific Committee on Health and Environmental Risks (SCHER) to consider whether a revision of the migration limits for chromium VI in toys or components of toys, is necessary in view of new available evidence, in particular, with regard to the potential carcinogenic effects of chromium VI. The SCHER evaluated recent data on the cancer potency of chromium VI after oral administration. The occurrence of oral and gastro-intestinal cancer in animals after oral uptake of chromium VI was shown. Due to the genotoxic mode of action there is evidence that carcinogenic effects observed in experimental animals may also be of relevance for humans. A virtual safe dose of 0.0002 μg/kg bw/d was derived and new values for migration limits for chromium VI from toys were recommended accordingly. Given the relatively high background exposure, however, the SCHER is of the opinion that exposure to chromium VI from toys should be minimised to the lowest levels achievable. The SCHER acknowledges that current best available technology may not be sufficient to achieve the new migration limits.

Keywords:

Scientific opinion, chromium VI, toys, virtual safe dose, migration limit, carcinogenicity, oral exposure

Opinion to be cited as:

SCHER (Scientific Committee on Health and Environmental Risks), Final Opinion on Chromium VI in toys, 22 January 2015.