What extractables/leachables are present in plastics?
This is a very complicated issue. Most of the potential extractables from plastics are actually additives in the plastic. Common additives include stabilizers like BHT; lubricants like calcium or zinc stearates, colorants. It is common for these additives to include both organic and inorganic components. There may also be some monomer of the plastic available for extraction in the final molded product. These extractables typically occur in very low concentrations (ppm or ppb). For any of these extractables to actually leach into a fluid, however, the following criteria must be met: 1) the extractable must be on the surface of the plastic to be in contact with the fluid, and 2) it must be soluble in the fluid. So, even though a plastic contains an additive, it may not be extractable in a particular fluid.
