W. CONSHOHOCKEN, PA — Proposed ASTM standards for aerosol products and artist pastels are among the current activities of Subcommittee D01.57 on Artist Paints and Related Materials, part of ASTM International Committee D01 on Paint and Related Coatings, Materials and Applications.

Self-pressurized aerosol containers that contain 10 percent or more petroleum distillates and come out as a stream can present an aspiration risk, since inhaling such fluids has been associated with chemical pneumonia. A proposed new ASTM standard, ASTM WK 37409, Test Method for Measuring Aspiration Potential of Aerosol Products, is being developed to support the evaluation of such products to determine whether they require special child-resistant packaging.

“Under Canada’s Consumer Chemicals and Containers Regulations, aerosol canisters that contain 10 percent or more petroleum distillates and expel their contents as a mist would not be expected to present an aspiration risk and would not require special child-resistant packaging,” said Woodhall Stopford, director of a toxicology laboratory at Duke University Medical Center that studies the safety of consumer products, and a D01.57 member. “Without using the test in this proposed standard, such products must be presumed to present a risk of aspiration and must have protective packaging. With testing using ASTM WK 37409, manufacturers can be assured that such packaging is not necessary.”

D01.57 is currently recruiting laboratories and manufacturers of self-pressurized aerosol containers to participate in inter-laboratory testing for ASTM WK 37409.

A proposed new standard, ASTM WK3 7916, Specification for Artists Pastels, will provide the pastel industry with a benchmark standard to allow it to test colors so that pastels can withstand exposure to light without fading.

Manufacturers will be the primary users of ASTM WK 37916, once it has been approved, because it will provide them with tests to determine color lightfastness, which must be done with sophisticated equipment or special outdoor testing. Manufacturers are also being sought for the ongoing development of ASTM WK 37916.

D01.57 is also planning to develop proposed standards on inkjet inks for artists, rigid support panels for paintings and historical paint manufacturing.