TY - JOUR
T1 - Hidden formaldehyde in cosmetic products
AU - Søgaard, Rebekka
AU - Poulsen, Pia Brunn
AU - Gelardi, Rikke Munch
AU - Geschke, Susann
AU - Schwensen, Jakob Ferløv Baselius
AU - Johansen, Jeanne Duus
N1 - © 2024 The Author(s). Contact Dermatitis published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
PY - 2024/12
Y1 - 2024/12
N2 - BACKGROUND: Formaldehyde is a common cause of contact allergy. Hidden formaldehyde, that is, formaldehyde in products without formaldehyde releasers, has previously been detected in cosmetic products.OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to investigate the content and causes of hidden formaldehyde in leave-on cosmetic products.METHODS: The formaldehyde release from 142 cosmetic products, primarily creams, was analysed using the chromotropic acid (CA) method. The study included 130 products with no formaldehyde releasers on the ingredient list and 12 products with formaldehyde releasers. Products without formaldehyde releasers positive to CA, that is, with formaldehyde ≥2.5 ppm, were additionally analysed using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Formaldehyde release from selected raw materials and packaging were also investigated.RESULTS: Hidden formaldehyde was found in 23 of the 130 products (18%) without formaldehyde releasers on the ingredient list. The average formaldehyde content was 105 ppm (range: 0.5-507 ppm) in products with hidden formaldehyde and 355 ppm (range: 75-637 ppm) in eight products with formaldehyde releasers, selected for HPLC analysis. Impurities of formaldehyde in dihydroxyacetone may be a cause of hidden formaldehyde in self-tanners. No clear pattern was found for the other products with hidden formaldehyde.CONCLUSIONS: Changes in regulation are needed to prevent allergic contact dermatitis from hidden formaldehyde in cosmetic products.
AB - BACKGROUND: Formaldehyde is a common cause of contact allergy. Hidden formaldehyde, that is, formaldehyde in products without formaldehyde releasers, has previously been detected in cosmetic products.OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to investigate the content and causes of hidden formaldehyde in leave-on cosmetic products.METHODS: The formaldehyde release from 142 cosmetic products, primarily creams, was analysed using the chromotropic acid (CA) method. The study included 130 products with no formaldehyde releasers on the ingredient list and 12 products with formaldehyde releasers. Products without formaldehyde releasers positive to CA, that is, with formaldehyde ≥2.5 ppm, were additionally analysed using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Formaldehyde release from selected raw materials and packaging were also investigated.RESULTS: Hidden formaldehyde was found in 23 of the 130 products (18%) without formaldehyde releasers on the ingredient list. The average formaldehyde content was 105 ppm (range: 0.5-507 ppm) in products with hidden formaldehyde and 355 ppm (range: 75-637 ppm) in eight products with formaldehyde releasers, selected for HPLC analysis. Impurities of formaldehyde in dihydroxyacetone may be a cause of hidden formaldehyde in self-tanners. No clear pattern was found for the other products with hidden formaldehyde.CONCLUSIONS: Changes in regulation are needed to prevent allergic contact dermatitis from hidden formaldehyde in cosmetic products.
KW - Formaldehyde/analysis
KW - Cosmetics/chemistry
KW - Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
KW - Humans
KW - Dermatitis, Allergic Contact/etiology
KW - Naphthalenesulfonates
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85201393663&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1111/cod.14669
DO - 10.1111/cod.14669
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 39155513
SN - 0105-1873
VL - 91
SP - 497
EP - 502
JO - Contact Dermatitis
JF - Contact Dermatitis
IS - 6
ER -