Abstract
This study was performed to evaluate the heavy metal contents in various packaging board. Domestic and foreign OCC (old corrugated containers) and old duplex boards were used as raw materials. Tests were made for the printed and unprinted parts of the sample. Heavy metal contents of old food packaging boards made from virgin pulp fibers were also evaluated. The contents of heavy metals including lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), barium (Ba), arsenic (As), antimony (Sb), selenium (Se), and mercury (Hg) were determined using ICP-AES (Inductively Coupled Plasma - Atomic Emission Spectrometer), and CV-AAS (Cold vapor-atomic absorption spectrometer) after digesting the samples in a microwave oven. The contents of heavy metals contained in domestic packaging board were higher than those in overseas samples, and OCC showed higher contents of heavy metals than old duplex boards. Printed parts gave greater heavy metal contents than unprinted parts. Results indicate that recycling of paper and paperboard products increases the heavy metal contamination of the paper packaging products and this derives mostly from the heavy metals contained in printing inks. Recycling processes that decrease heavy metals in recycled fibers and new printing inks that contains less heavy metals should be developed to solve the problem associated with the heavy metals in packaging paper products.
