As promised, Arnika carried out basic measurements of loom band sets using a roentgen spectrometer, to analyse presence of heavy metals, and also to find out whether some of them were made of plasticized PVC. It examined also hooks and looms. Within the framework of consumer goods testing in Gallery Vaňkovka in Brno, we have carried out measurements of both band sets that brought visitors of our stand, and the ones we ourselves bought for this purpose. The first measurement phase did not find high heavy metals concentrations in any loom band sets on the Czech market, and it also did not find any loom band sets made of plasticized PVC. Thus, suspicion on the basis of experiences of the United Kingdom and Ireland was not confirmed yet.
More updated information: Loom Band Charms and Scoubidou Strings Contain Phthalates and Heavy Metals
„Our analyses were carried out using a roentgen spectrometer. It detects the contents of the individual elements - heavy metals, bromine, or chlorine. It is also able to determine whether the material is PVC or no. However, on the basis of these measurements, it cannot be concluded whether toxic phthalates were present. Because of that, we have decided to commission additional analyses of selected sets of loom bands and their accessories, to determine possible presence of phthalates that may be added not only into PVC, but also into other plastics, although their presence in other plastics is less likely.
Naturally, we will inform both the public and, if necessary, the Czech Trade Inspection Authority, on the results of the further analyses. However, there was not a reason to inform the Authority yet," summarized the head of the Toxics and Waste Programme of the Arnika Association, RNDr. Jindřich Petrlík, the basic results of the tests carried out until now. However, Arnika found presence of plasticized PVC in the so-called scoubidou strings. They will be subjected to further analysis for phthalates, too. Basic test results and overview of information on the tested samples of loom bands and one sample of scoubidou strings are summarized in the following table. Silicone bands probably do not contain phthalates. In the case of synthetic rubber, this is not so sure.
|
Product name |
Producer |
Material specified on the package |
Note |
Correct CE marking |
Analysis result |
|
Bo Bo Jewelry - cylindrical box with dozens of bands |
not specified |
not specified |
Country of origin: China |
not made of PVC |
|
|
Colorful DIY bands 450 pcs |
Toys, Amsterdam |
not specified |
Importer Netherlands, then Brno |
not made of PVC |
|
|
LOOM Bands 300 pieces |
Ningbo Free Toys Factory China |
not specified |
Importer Netherlands, then Brno |
not made of PVC |
|
|
Loom bands perfumed 300 pieces |
Toi-Toys NL |
not specified |
Allergy warning due to the presence of aromatic substances |
x |
not made of PVC |
|
Scoubidou strings |
Wiky (importer) |
not specified |
Country of origin: China, packaging material PAP/PVC. |
x |
plasticized PVC |
|
DIY Fashion bands 600 pieces |
not specified |
not specified; lead free, latex free |
Country of origin: China, 6+ |
not made of PVC |
|
|
DIY Colourful bands |
not specified |
not specified |
Country of origin: China, ca 200 pieces of bands + 2 hooks |
x |
not made of PVC |
|
DIY Loom bands watches |
not specified |
not specified |
Country of origin: China |
not made of PVC |
|
|
Monster Tail |
Rainbow Loom |
latex-free rubber |
US patent, manufactured in China, original producer, 7+ |
not made of PVC |
|
|
DIY Rubber bands |
not specified |
latex-free rubber |
Even the importer is not specified. |
not made of PVC |
|
|
Box with 12 kinds of bands |
Twin Tiger USA/ manufactured in China |
not specified |
Even the importer is not specified. |
not made of PVC |
|
|
Colorful LOOM bands - box with 16 different colours |
not specified |
silicone |
Even the importer is not specified. |
not made of PVC |
|
|
Rubber Loops Streifen Bunts |
Max Bringmann KG, Wendelstein, Germany |
latex free rubber |
LGA tested, a number of information; set of colourful striped bands |
x |
not made of PVC |
|
Bande elstique Silicone |
silicone |
not made of PVC |
|||
|
Colorful Accessories |
- |
not made of PVC |
|||
|
Colorful Loom Bands, Endless Posibilities |
- |
not made of PVC |
|||
|
Hand made rubber band (DIY) |
not specified |
rubber |
importer: CZ |
x |
not made of PVC |
|
DIY Rubberbands |
not specified |
rubber |
importer is not specified - no information; yellow fragrant transparent bands |
not made of PVC |
|
|
Krazy Loom Bandz |
not specified |
lead free, latex free, otherwise unspecified |
label is in Spanish, otherwise nothing specified, marking 12+; 200 transparent bands of different colours |
x |
not made of PVC |
|
Colorful Accessories |
not specified |
not specified |
notched orange bands; importer, as well as any other information, are not specified |
not made of PVC |
|
|
DIY Rubberbands |
not specified |
rubber |
importer is not specified - no information; dark grey bands |
not made of PVC |
Testing of the loom bands was carried out within the framework of projects focusing on improvement of consumer knowledge on chemical substances in their environment, and has been financed by the European Commission Representation in the Czech Republic within the framework of the project „We Have the Right to Know“, by the Ministry of Environment, and by the Metropolitan Authority of the Capital City of Prague.
