Dionex product ‘used to extract dangerous chemicals from shoes’

Dionex, supplier of scientific solutions, has revealed that its ASE 200 instrument has been used by seven organisations to extract phthalates from 27 different types of plastic shoes.

Among the bodies to make use of the product was the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation, after it analysed footwear for the presence of various components, including phthalates, metals and organometallics.

The phthalate diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), which has been found to harm the reproductive system, can easily infiltrate ground water or be absorbed through direct contact, Dionex pointed out.

According to the data collected, 17 out of 27 shoes tested contained DEHP.

In September, Dionex announced that it had entered into an asset purchase agreement with ESA Biosciences to acquire HPLC-related products, clinical assays and laboratory services.

This, it stated, allows the company to increase its expertise in the fields of neuroscience, clinical diagnostics and biomedical research.