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Public
Health - VOSI Document V50.1
UNIVERSAL SPECIFICATION/TEST
METHOD FOR
CLASSIFYING AND MINIMIZING THE LEAD (PB) CONTENT OF METAL CORE
CANDLE WICKS & TO BAN METAL CORE IMPORTED CANDLES
1. SCOPE
1.1 This Universal Specification/Test Method
specifies a
simple test method, based on tensile testing, for
determining
whether candle wick metal cores are zinc, tin or lead alloys.
1.2 The maximum lead content of metal core candle wicks
shall be 0.01%.
1.3 Eliminate metal core candle wicks for imported candles in order to
facilitate inspection by U.S. Customs Dept. (reference paragraph 4.10)
2. REFERENCED DOCUMENTS
2.1 Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)
Petition HP 00-3Public Citizen(2/24/2000 and 3/17/2000), National Multi Housing Council
and National Apartment Assoc(2/23/2000).
2.2 6/8/2000 Letter from Public Citizen to CPSC
Secretary.
2.3 Wire Industries, Inc., Material Safety Data
Sheet (MSDS) for zinc alloy used in Atkins
& Pearce zinc core wicks.
2.4 Atkins & Pearce 1/1/1999 Price List for
cotton, paper and zinc cored wicks.
2.5 World Health Organization (United Nations),
Geneva Switzerland 7/6/2000 fax to D. Meserlian, VOSI Chairman.
2.6 VOSI Research Report RR7-V50.1 ''Test Method
for Classifying and Minimizing the Lead (Pb) Content in Metal Core Candle Wicks'.
2.7 ASTM E1613-99 "Standard Test Method for
Determination of Lead etc."
3. TERMINOLOGY
3.1 Wick Core - The cylindrical center
of a candle wick (typically 0.010-0.020 inch diameter).
3.2 Zinc core - A zinc alloy having
less than 0.01% lead by weight and a minimum 20,000 PSI
tensile strength (Ref. 2.3 and Ref.2.6). Material Safety Data
Sheet (MSDS) must specify 0.01% max lead.
3.3 Tin Core - A tin alloy having less
then 0.10% lead but greater than 0.01% (Approx. 5000 PSI
tensile strength).
3.4 Lead Core- A lead alloy typically
having a lead content from 25 to 85% lead (Approx. 2000 PSI
tensile strength).
3.5 Fiber Core- A non-metal core candle
wick.
4. SIGNIFICANCE & USE
4.1 Only zinc core wicks per 3.2 should be
used in metal cores for candle wicks. (NOTE: tensile
testing will not be required but only a visual test will be
necessary).
4.2 The CPSC should ban the use of tin and
lead cores (exceeding .01% Lead) per 2.1 and 2.2
4.3 The CPSC should notify the U.S. Customs
Dept. of this specification/test method.
4.4 Both domestic and imported metal candle
wick cores should be tensile tested to insure that only zinc
cores are sold to the public. (Ref. 2.6).0.01% maximum lead
content of zinc cores should be verified by candle and candle
wick manufacturers per 2.7. A material certification should be provided by the zinc alloy wire mfg. indicating the max % of lead
4.5 A suitable candle core tensile test kit,
Model 90 Candle Core Classification Test Kit, (ref. 2.6) is
available from Technical Products Co., 24F Commerce Rd.,
Fairfield NJ 07004 Ph (973) 227-7635, Fax - 7636. Any other
tensile test may be used.
4.6 A major U.S. wick manufacturer only
supplies zinc core wicks (Ref. 2.4).
4.7 Lead accumulates in the body throughout a
person's lifetime. (Ref. 2.5) A person who uses candles
regularly could easily burn 1000 candles during their
lifetime.
4.8 The CPSC and/or the National Candle
Association (NCA) should advise manufacturers of metal candle
wick cores of this specification/test method.
4.9 Wire candle wick cores are not used in Western
Europe.
4.10 The United States as one of 191 member
nations of the World Health Organization (WHO) should
eventually ban the use of metal core wicks as the WHO members
have done in Western Europe. (reference 1.3)
4.11 Use of this specifications/test method
will significantly reduce the health hazards of lead
accumulation when burning metal core wick candles.
4.12 The CPSC should ban the use of metal core wicks in imported candles in
order to facilitate visual inspection
5. KEYWORDS
5.1 Wick Core, Zinc (Zn) Core, Tin (Sn) Core,
Lead (Pb) Core
This Universal Specification/Test Method is
under the jurisdiction of Voices of Safety International (VOSI)
Committee V41.50 on "Public Health", Task GroupV50.1
on "Safety of Metal Core Candle Wicks". The VOSI Task
Group worked cooperatively with ASTM Committee F 15 on Consumer
Products, Subcommittee F15.45 on Candle Products' Candle Wick
Task Group.
Updated:
11/24/2000
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