Regulating and Testing for Azo Dyes
Azo dyes are synthetic dyes with which manufacturers treat certain textile and leather products to give them more vibrant colors. However, some types of these dyes degrade and produce aromatic amines, which have proven to be carcinogenic.
Multiple governing bodies, such as the European Union (EU) and the State of California, have created restrictions on the inclusion of Azo dyes in consumer products, specifically textiles and leathers that come into prolonged contact with the skin. The legal limit for each harmful amine is 10 parts per million (ppm). This means that, in order to remain compliant, harmful Azo dyes must make up less than 0.003% of the mass of each leather and textile component included in a regulated product.
To avoid running afoul of the various consumer safety laws and industry regulations that restrict the use of Azo dyes in consumer products, manufacturers send samples of their design materials to testing labs like ATS for analysis.
About Our Testing Methods
Our experts use chromatographic methods to identify and quantify Azo dyes and other regulated chemicals in products. Two significant test methods are Gas Chromatography / Mass Spectroscopy (GC/MS) and High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) testing. GC/MS is a destructive method of testing that yields information on the chemical composition of the analyte. ATS’ chemical analysis lab uses this method to isolate, identify, and measure compounds of interest if present in sample materials.
ATS provides results at the parts-per-billion (ppb) level when performing this test — a far greater sensitivity than required by regulations on Azo dyes. We can achieve these low detection limits because of the sensitivity of our analytical equipment and our chemists’ experience in regularly performing the method to relevant standards.
We test client samples for these substances according to federal testing methods:
- EPA 3545A
- EPA 8321B
Full List of Restricted Substances
The table below reflects the full list of Azo Dyes restricted by either the EU under REACH, or the California Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under Proposition 65, or both:
| No. | CASS No. | Chemical Name |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 92-67-1 | 4-Aminodiphenyl |
| 2 | 92-87-5 | Benzidine |
| 3 | 95-69-2 | 4-Chloro-o-toluidine |
| 4 | 91-59-8 | 2-Naphthylamine |
| 5 | 97-56-3 | o-Aminoazotoluene |
| 6 | 99-55-8 | 2-Amino-4-nitrotoluene |
| 7 | 106-47-8 | p-Chloroaniline |
| 8 | 615-05-4 | 2,4-Diaminoanisole |
| 9 | 101-77-9 | 4,4′-diaminodiphenylmethance |
| 10 | 91-94-1 | 3,3′-Dichlorobenzidine |
| 11 | 119-90-4 | 3,3′-Dimethoxybenzidine |
| 12 | 119-93-7 | 3,3′-Dimethylbenzidine |
| 13 | 838-88-0 | 3,3′-Dimethyl-4,4′-diaminodiphenylmethane |
| 14 | 120-71-8 | p-Cresidine |
| 15 | 101-14-4 | 4,4′-methylene-bis-(2-Chloroaniline) |
| 16 | 101-80-4 | 4,4′-Oxydianiline |
| 17 | 139-65-1 | 4,4′-Thiodianiline |
| 18 | 95-53-4 | o-Toluidine |
| 19 | 95-80-7 | 2,4-Toluenediamine |
| 20 | 137-17-7 | 2,4,5-Trimethylaniline |
| 21 | 60-09-3 | p-Phenylazoaniline |
| 22 | 90-04-0 | o-Anisidine |
| 23 | 96-28-1 | 2,4-Xylidine |
| 24 | 87-62-7 | 2,6-Xylidine |
| 25 | 106-49-0 | p-Toluidine |
| 26 | 108-44-1 | m-Toluidine |
Contact Us
Click here to submit an online request for Azo dye testing. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us! Call +1 (888) 287-5227 to speak with a representative about your testing requirements.
