Permethrin content in protective clothing according to EN 17487

EN 17487 - Protective clothing. Garments with permethrin as-treated articles supporting the protection against tick bites specifies the method for the determination of permethrin content in textiles, especially those treated for insect-repellent or insecticidal purposes (e.g., military uniforms, mosquito nets, or protective clothing). 

The standard is applicable to all types of body covering clothing helping to protect the wearer against tick bites by clothing that has been industrially treated with permethrin. By preventing ticks from biting, Lyme disease and other communicable diseases are being prevented. The standard is applicable to clothing offering protection against all life stages of the most frequently present tick in Europe, the Ixodes ricinus.

This test standard covers different metods. Centexbel only performs the chemical analysis, as described below.

The standard describes a quantitative analytical method to determine the content of permethrin, a synthetic pyrethroid insecticide, in textile materials. The principle involves:

1. Extraction of permethrin from the textile using an organic solvent.
2. Quantification of permethrin using Gas Chromatography with Flame Ionization Detection (GC-FID) or Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS).

Permethrin exists as a mixture of cis- and trans-isomers, and the method allows separate or combined quantification, depending on the intended outcome.

1. Sample Preparation

• A defined mass of the textile sample (typically 0.2–1.0 g) is cut into small pieces to increase surface area.
• The sample is weighed accurately.

2. Extraction

• The textile pieces are extracted with a specific organic solvent, typically n-hexane, acetone, or methanol, often using an ultrasonic bath or shaking for a defined time (e.g., 30–60 minutes).
• The extract is then filtered or decanted.

3. Concentration and Cleanup (if required)

• The extract may be concentrated under reduced pressure (e.g., rotary evaporator) and redissolved in a known volume of solvent.
• A cleanup step such as solid-phase extraction (SPE) may be used if matrix interferences are suspected.

4. Gas Chromatographic Analysis

• The purified extract is injected into a GC-FID or GC-MS instrument.
• Separation of the cis- and trans-isomers of permethrin is achieved using a non-polar or moderately polar capillary column.

5. Quantification

• Calibration curves are established using permethrin standards of known concentrations.
• The concentration of permethrin in the textile sample is determined by comparing the peak areas (or heights) to those of the standards.
• The result is expressed in mg/kg of textile.

• The method reports the total permethrin content and, optionally, the amount of each isomer
• Results are typically given in mg/kg (ppm) of textile material