Here - PFI Group

JoINT PFI AND LGR RESEARCH PRoJECT
The leather was split fourfold
in order to examine the
individual layers
Tests on Footwear
In addition to the studies on leather samples, items of
footwear were also produced and the leathers subsequently
examined in the laboratory. Upper and lining
leathers with different contents of chrome tanning
agent were selected for shoe production and two different
adhesives were used. Four upper leathers and
four lining leathers were used in one shoe, for the toe,
the heel, the left side, and the right side, respectively.
None of the leathers used had a chromium(VI) content
exceeding 3.0 mg/kg prior to shoe production. In total,
32 upper leathers and 32 lining leathers from the shoes
were examined for their chromium(VI) content. None
of the upper leathers used in the shoes showed increased
chromium(VI) levels. Five of the lining leathers
were found to have chromium(VI) values exceeding 3.0
mg/kg. A long-term test of the shoes over a period of
three months showed a slight increase of chromium(VI)
values depending upon the amount of chrome tanning
agent used. The increased chromium(VI) levels in the
shoes could be greatly lowered by spray application
of reducing agents. After a four-week treatment of
the shoes with reducing agents, the individual leathers
of the shoes were again examined with regard to
their chromium(VI) contents. The reducing agent lost
some of its potential, but the chromium(VI) levels of
the leathers of the shoes still lay below the legal limit
value for chromium(VI) of 3.0 mg/kg.
01.2011
Magazine of the Test and Research Institute Pirmasens
The findings demonstrate that adoption of specific
measures can minimise the risk of chromium(VI) formation
in leather products – in the interests of preventative
consumer health care. The complete research
report is available from the contact address.
Contact:
Dr. Kerstin Schulte
Head of Chemical Analysis and Research
Prüf- und Forschungsinstitut Pirmasens
Marie-Curie-Straße 19
66953 Pirmasens
Phone: +49 6331 2490 712
Fax: +49 6331 2490 60
E-Mail: kerstin.schulte@pfi-germany.de
27