Environmental aspects when using non-EU glass … aspects when using non-EU glass beads ... •...

Rellingen, Nov. 2010 Potters Europe 1

Environmental aspects whenEnvironmental aspects whenusing nonusing non--EU glass beadsEU glass beads

Hofmann Technologie Tage 2010Jan Marquardt


Synopsis• Euroadbeads• Glass recycling• SRPVI• What are heavy metals?• What kind of heavy metals are there, where are they?• How do heavy metals reach the food chain?• Adverse health effects• Heavy metal content in non-EU impact beads• The impact bead industry has already reacted!• Heavy metal content in non-EU micro glass beads• Heavy metal content in road markings• Results of XRF measurements• Several have already reacted! …and what would you do?!


EUROADBEADSEUROADBEADS• Pool of the European micro glass bead manufacturers

– Potters Europe– Sovitec– Swarco

• Cooperation with international boards– Definition of standard EN 1423 – Increase in road safety by innovative products & high quality standards– Environmental protection aspects in terms of production of micro glass beads

• Support of CE certification authorities• Support of industry and administration in case of any questions

concerning micro glass beads

• Every member is a recycler of float glass produced in Europe!

EUROADBEAD


Glass recycling• Glass is 100 % recyclable, thus contributing

significantly to environmental protection• Glass has a closed usage cycle („cradle to cradle“, i.e.

waste glass becomes new glass)• The use of European cullet does not only preserve the

natural raw material resources but also reduces energy consumption. – carbon footprint

Potters globally recycles more than half a million tons of glass annually.


SociSociééttéé de de RecyclageRecyclage de de ProduitsProduitsVerriersVerriers IndustrielsIndustriels (SRPVI)(SRPVI)

• SRPVI was founded in 2001 • Specialized in recycling float glass and white

bottle glass• The plant in Chateaubernard (near Cognac)

has an annual capacity of 50,000 tons• SRPVI is a member of the FEDEREC –

Recycling Companies Federation


SRPVISRPVI


Environmental effects of micro glass beads

• long transportation routes• possibility of recycling• direct contact with environment

(road markings)

heavy metals


What are heavy metals?What are heavy metals?• The designation „heavy metals“ represents a group of metals. • There is no clear, scientifically-accepted definition of the term „heavy

metal“. Literature offers a large number of different definitions.

• The public considers any matter designated „heavy metal“ to be a toxic substance.

• Many heavy metals are harmful to health or toxic for the human body because they cannot be metabolized.

• In most cases they reach the human body via the food chain.


What kind of heavy metals are What kind of heavy metals are there and where are they?there and where are they?

• In traces, heavy metals occur everywhere in nature. Vital heavy metals are zinc, iron, manganese, and copper.

• The following heavy metals are generally considered as dangerous and toxic:– Arsenic (As): ore smelting, waste incineration. – Lead (Pb): soldering material, ammunition, accumulators, water pipes,

pewter; it is barely used any longer as gasoline additive, in (printing) inks, and household appliances.

– Cadmium (Cd): zinc smelting, waste incineration, is mobilized in phosphate fertilization, cigarette smoke; it is barely used any longer as additive to dyes and synthetics.

– Chromium (Cr): waste incineration, cosmetics, cleaning agents, clothing.– Mercury (Hg): electrical industry, photography, textiles, amalgam,

accumulation in seafood.


How do heavy metals reach the How do heavy metals reach the food chain?food chain?

• For example mercury (Hg)• Even in ancient times Hg, the only

liquid metal, was deemed to be »the strongest of all poisons«.

• Due to an irresponsible environmental policy it is omnipresent nowadays.

• It accumulates considerably in the food chain and deposits in especially fatty tissue like the brain.

Explanations: Industrie = industry; Pflanzen = plants; Tiere = animals;Menschen = humans; Boden = soil; Bodenwasser = soilwater; Grundwasser = ground water, Oberflächenwasser = surface water; Trinkwasser = potable water; Lufttransport = air transportation; Transport in Nahrungs- und Futtermitteln = transportation in food and animal feeds; Wassertransport = water transportation


Adverse health effects Adverse health effects • In most cases metals absorbed by the body have a

long-term effect (e.g. in hair, nails, or bones), with the immune system often being weakened. – Arsenic and arsenic compounds are dangerous,

especially in inorganic compounds: body aches, amyosthenia, hair loss, weight loss, gastroenteritis, cancer.

– Lead is a strong haemo, neuro, and nephrotoxin: anemia, indispositions, epilepsy, mental changes.


How are heavy metals identified?

• X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis• For many years the XRF analysis has been an

established method to analyze the chemical composition.

• For a couple of years this method, which used to be reserved to special laboratories, has been available in portable units.– reliable on-site analyses

• Potters has globally implemented portable XRF units– Niton XLt


Heavy metal content in non-EU impact beads

575.3415.0127.4160.92ppm6

< LOD< LOD30.1445.21ppm7 (EU sample)

ppm

ppm

ppm

ppm

ppm

Units

561.3813.8221.4148.135

832.83622.63152.3698.254

791.60614.61148.2895.393

1021.56< LOD494.,9644.962

1023.96< LOD484.86< LOD1

Arsenic(As)

Lead(Pb)

Cadmium (Cd)

Antimony(Sb)Sample No.

<LOD = below limit of detection


The impact bead industry has already reacted!

Press Release JOT Journal(10/07 and 06/09)


Heavy metal content in non-EU micro glass beads (Drop-on and Premix Beads)

743.57421.8333.8433.76105.30ppm6

975.44153.09125.0155.29168.30ppm3

1,230.95600.34143.9430.89111.00ppm4

999.31322.9533.9729.3498.58ppm5

638.02< LOD< LOD< LOD47.96ppmDrop-on beadsas per EN 1423

ppm

ppm

Unit

486.30< LOD22.2427.65182.952

805.41542.70130.0529.47151.851

Iron(Fe)

Arsenic(As)

Lead(Pb)

Cadmium (Cd)

Antimony(Sb)Sample type

<LOD = below limit of detection


Heavy metal content in road markings• XRF measurements were performed in

– Sweden– Finland – and Portugal

• Since 2007 the values having been measured show alarming results!

• Please consider: The following values were measured on the completely applied marking the individual heavy metal content of Drop-on and Premix beads is considerably higher!– dilution effect


Picture #329ff: E27 – new road & marking

Picture #329ff: E27 – Pb, As, Sb


Picture #340: E25 – Pb, As, Sb

Picture #346ff: E125 – Pb, As, Sb


Picture #382, #383: E193 –Thermo spray application – high readings of Sb & Cd

Picture #309, #310: E104 – Pb, As, Sb


Lidingö Island – completely new marking; full range of heavy metals


Results of XRF measurements• Sweden: summary 2007

– 77% of all measurements reveal heavy metals such as As, Sb, Pb, Cd, and/or Cr

• Sweden: summary 2008– In 74% of all measurements heavy metals (As, Sb,

Pb, and/or Cd) were found– The element detected in most cases: As

• Sweden: results 2010– in 71% of all measurements heavy metals such as

As, Sb, Pb, Cd, and Cr were detected


Several have already reacted!• Finnish Road Authority

• In 2005/2006 the first tests with non-EU glass beads were conducted• Massive “quality” problems were encountered• Since January 1, 2007 a new specification has been in effect, even

including the arsenic topic

• UK: Cheshire County Council• Comparative investigations of EU and non-EU glass beads were

conducted as early as in 2006• The imported products showed alarmingly high values of arsenic

• hazardous waste landfill regulations• As a result an analysis method for routine inspections has been

developed and implemented.

• EU: prEN 1423: 2010 (Version 21 April 2010)


Excerpt of prEN 1423: 2010 (Version 21 April 2010)4.2.5 Dangerous substances• In order to check the content of arsenic, lead and antimony, the glass beads shall be tested in

accordance with Clause 5.3.8• Each element (As, Pb, Sb) shall be separately classified into one of the following two classes:

– Class 0: NPD no value requested– Class 1: ≤ 200 ppm (mg/kg)

Annex I (normative) - Test Method to determine the presence of dangerous substances.I.2 Quick alternative method• In order to frequently control the chemical composition of manufactured glass beads and glass

grains before shipment, a portable or fixed X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) analyzer may be used.

• The equipment sensibility shall respect prescribed detection protocol, with a confidence interval above 99%.

• Measurement values, in correlation with reference method, shall be given in ppm (mg/kg).• For safety purpose, using an analyzer with radioactive source is not advisable.

– NOTE: The test method defined in I.1 is considered as the reference test method


Several have already reacted!

Product requirements… „The Tender shall state the quantity of heavy metals arsenic (As) and lead (Pb). The MSDS should also state the quantity of other heavy metals such as mercury (Hg) and Cadmium (Cd).

The quantity of heavy metals in Glass Beads must not exceed 200 ppm (mg/kg) per heavy metal.“


And what would you do?And what would you do?

Thank you very much for your attention!

Environmental aspects when using non-EU glass … aspects when using non-EU glass beads ... •...

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