Development of qualitative, quantitatve and imaging analytical methods for the analysis of tattoo inks, pigments, particles, fibres and consumer products (research focus 3, department 7)

Different topics relevant to the BfR in the field of non-food-products require the use of specialized test procedures or the development of analytical methods to accurately describe materials and consumer products. Such newly developed methods can be relevant in the context market surveillance, hazard and risk assessment or research in many areas. This includes the investigation, identification and quantification of tattoo pigments, as well as their spatial distribution within skin and other organs, which poses a great challenge due to their low solubility and missing standards. The increasing application of additive manufacturing techniques, necessitates the investigation of emissions of newer 3D printing techniques (e.g. SLA printing), of effects of printing parameters, and of the printing quality (i.e. curing and possible migration). Additionally, imaging techniques shall be used to investigate the distribution of colourants and their degradation products in e.g. textile fibres, as well as the characterisation of surface and core of micro- and nanosize polymer particles and their distribution in cells and tissue, and to assess the in depth distribution of elements in enamel products before and after exposure to sweat simulants, as well as the distribution of fluorine in products intended for skin contact containing PFAS-coatings. These studies contribute to elucidate the relationship between the distribution of toxicological relevant substances in materials and products and their release. Within this research project these analytical questions will be addressed. Meachanistic insights gained can contribute to a better understanding of the consumer exposiure by contact to the mentioned materials or products during use. The project will be thematically grouped as follows: WP 1 – Tattoo analysis WP 2 – Imaging mass spectrometry WP 3 – 3D prin