A Consumer Council test revealed that Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs), some of which may be carcinogenic, were found in the side handles of 4 samples of suitcases at levels exceeding the guidelines set under a German voluntary labelling scheme on consumer products containing plastics.
The PAHs level of one sample exceeded the limit by around 1,800 times. Various types of phthalate plasticizers were also detected in some samples.
Customs and Excise Department has advised the agent for the suitcases of which the handles are found with high PAHs to stop the sales of the concerned model and to replace the handles.
The Council conducted a test on 19 models of non-cabin suitcases of over 22" of the hard and soft types, with a retractable handle and side handle. They were tested for weight, capacity, durability, overall ease of use and the types of chemicals contained in the handles of the suitcases.
Coordinated by the International Consumer Research & Testing (ICRT), the test covered 9 hard suitcases, 7 soft suitcases, and 3 expandable hard suitcases that can be expanded to give extra capacity, with prices ranging from HK$350 to HK$5,100.
Test results on durability showed that 2 models could not stand on the drop test, in which the wheels system of 1 model was found damaged while another model was found with corner and seams damaged.
As far as the performance of water resistance was concerned, fully-loaded samples were put in transport and lying position under a sprinkle system which simulated a rainfall situation, only 2 models showed better performance.
On the test for hazardous content, it was revealed that no PAHs were detected in all the retractable handles of the suitcases. Only two samples were found to contain the plasticizers DEHP or DIBP, at a level below 0.1%.
For the side handles of the suitcases, 10 out of 19 samples were found to contain PAHs. Of these, one sample was detected with PAHs at a level of 17,960mg/kg; while another 3 sample recorded the PAHs levels from 14.5mg/kg to 61.7mg/kg. No PAHs were found in the remaining 9 samples.
Some PAHs can be carcinogenic and may be commonly found in plastics, rubber and lubricating oil. It is possible that during the manufacturing process, traces of PAHs may be left in the plastic products.
According to the guidelines set under a voluntary German certification scheme, GS Mark, the PAHs limit for consumer products with skin contact for longer than 30 seconds is 10mg/kg while the relevant limit for consumer products with skin contact up to 30 seconds is 200mg/kg. The Council's test revealed that PAHs contained in 4 tested samples exceeded the 10mg/kg limit with skin contact for longer than 30 seconds
For the test on 7 plasticizers on the side handles, no traces of the plasticizers were found in 11 models. However, 8 samples were detected to contain at least 2 plasticizers, including the case of one sample which contained a high level of total PAHs. 5 of those 8 samples were detected to contain 4 or more plasticizers and in some cases the contents exceeded the level of 0.1%.
Test results of the durability and the overall ease of use of the tested samples can be found on the latest issue (428) of CHOICE magazine.
When selecting suitcases, consumers may find the following tips useful:
- A hard-shell casing provides greater protection for the content, but in general the suitcase cannot be expanded for extra capacity. Soft suitcases often include external compartments, which come in handy when additional capacity is needed. Consumers can choose according to their preferences.
- Some suitcases may have elaborate or simple internal accessories: some have built-in internal pockets and retaining straps for clothes while others do not. Consumers may choose basing on their needs.
- Suitcases with TSA locks can be opened by the officers of Transport Security Administration of the USA using universal "master" keys. Such locks may avoid damaging the suitcases during security checks.
The Consumer Council reserves all its right (including copyright) in respect of CHOICE magazine and Online CHOICE ( https://echoice.consumer.org.hk/ ).