Toy swords revisited: identification of additional odour-active contaminants

Abstract

Odorants related to offensive odours in three children’s toy swords were identified and characterized by human sensory and chemical analyses. Samples were initially evaluated by a trained sensory panel. Panellists reported unpleasant smells in all samples that were dominated by mothball-like, phenolic and rubber-like notes and additionally almond-like and fatty notes. The odorants from the samples were then extracted using dichloromethane and subsequent solvent-assisted flavour evaporation distillation. Enriched distillates were then analysed by means of single and two-dimensional gas chromatography–mass spectrometry/olfactometry. An additional screening analysis for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons was also performed on all samples. The most predominant odorants identified in the samples were naphthalene, 1- and 2-methylnaphthalene and diverse dimethylnaphthalene isomers with gasoline-like smells. Acetophenone, with an almond-like, flowery smell, was also detected. Furthermore, the phenolic/leather-like smelling substances 3-ethylphenol, 3-hydroxyacetophenone, and 3-methoxyacetophenone were identified in one sample.