Chemical Characterization of Recycled Consumer Products Using Suspect Screening Analysis

Area of Science:

• Environmental Chemistry
• Analytical Chemistry
• Materials Science

Background:

• Circular economy initiatives increase the use of recycled materials in consumer products.
• The chemical composition of recycled materials is often uncharacterized, posing potential risks.
• Understanding chemical content is crucial for assessing the safety of recycled goods.

Purpose of the Study:

• To characterize the chemical content of consumer products made from recycled versus virgin materials.
• To identify and quantify chemicals present in recycled materials.
• To provide data for improved exposure assessments and risk evaluations.

Main Methods:

• Suspect screening analysis using two-dimensional gas chromatography time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC × GC-TOFMS).
• Analysis of 210 products across seven categories (154 recycled, 56 virgin).
• Chemical identification via spectral library matching and confirmation with chemical standards.

Main Results:

• A total of 918 probable chemical structures were identified in recycled materials versus 587 in virgin materials.
• Recycled paper and construction materials showed higher chemical diversity compared to virgin counterparts.
• Identified chemicals with greater occurrence in recycled materials included fragrances, flame retardants, solvents, biocides, and dyes.

Conclusions:

• Recycled materials contain a broader spectrum of chemicals than virgin materials, necessitating further investigation.
• The findings highlight the need to consider currently neglected exposure pathways in risk assessments.
• Prioritization of identified chemicals for further hazard and exposure studies is recommended.