Analysis of hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)] in candy
packages
Table 6 presents the concentrations of Cr(VI) and Pb in
candy packages that were detected at levels over
100 mg kg1 of the total Cr. The colors of these candy
packages were mainly yellow or green. In this table, numbers
1 and 2 were box-type candy packages, which were
made of polyethylene hard plastic, and the Cr(VI) were
detected less than 15% of the total Cr. This result does
not indicate that the packages were not made using Cr(VI),
but it means that extraction of the Cr compounds by toluene
was difficult in hard plastic materials. On the other
hand, sample numbers from 3 to 7 were wrapper-type
candy packages, which were coated with polypropylene
and had printed outer covers, and Cr(VI) was detected in
these packages at 87–105.0% of the total Cr, and the ink
components could be perfectly extracted from the printed
outer covers using the toluene solvent. These results imply
that the Cr(VI) in the package originates from ink pigments
Table 4
Levels of heavy metals in candies likely to be consumed by small children
Manufacturing
country (sample no.)
such as PbCrO4 and CrO3.