19 US states have toxics in packaging laws that prohibit the sale or distribution of packaging containing intentionally added cadmium, lead, mercury, & hexavalent chromium, & set limits on the incidental concentration of these materials in packaging. The purpose of these laws is to prevent the use of toxic heavy metals in packaging materials that enter landfill. This 2009 Update documents the continued investigation by TPCH of heavy metals in packaging, using XRF analysis. In 2008, TPCH screened an additional 409 packages to detect trends in compliance with state toxics in packaging laws & identify areas where TPCH should focus, or continue to focus, its outreach efforts. TPCH used the screening results to notify brand owners of potentially non-compliant packages about toxics in packaging requirements, & to bring non-compliant packages into compliance.
