Meaning
Chemical compounds present in a finished material that were not included for a functional purpose during the manufacturing process pose risks to product safety. Non intentionally added substances nias include breakdown products and impurities in raw materials. These molecules are not listed on the original material safety data sheet.
Formation Source
Thermal degradation during injection moulding can create new chemical species within the polymer. Reaction side-products from the synthesis of antioxidants or stabilizers are also a common origin for non intentionally added substances nias. Recycled resins often contain higher levels of these compounds due to previous contamination cycles.
Detection Method
High resolution mass spectrometry identifies unknown peaks in a migration extract. Screening for non intentionally added substances nias requires comparing the results against extensive chemical databases. Quantifying these substances is difficult because their exact chemical structure is not always known.
Risk Assessment
Toxicologists evaluate the potential health impact of any detected compound based on its concentration and structure. Thresholds of toxicological concern are used when specific data is missing for non intentionally added substances nias. Ensuring a part is safe requires the evaluation of these unintended migrants alongside the authorized additives.
The presence of these substances often limits the use of certain regrinds in food contact applications.
