Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in Personal Hygiene Products: The Implications for Human Exposure and Emission to the Environment

Abstract

Per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have been related to reproductive toxicity in humans, but their occurrence in some specific personal hygiene products, i.e., sanitary pads, panty liners, tampons, paper diapers, menstrual cups, and bactericidal liquids, has not been extensively studied. This work investigated 31 representative PFAS in six categories of such personal hygiene products (n = 91). Perfluorinated carboxylic acids were the primary PFAS found in the samples, accounting for over 85% of the total concentrations of PFAS. Paper diapers contained the highest sum of PFAS concentrations (64.6 ng/g) followed by sanitary pads (52.3 ng/g) and menstrual cups (21.1 ng/g). The estimated exposure doses of perfluorooctanoic acid through dermal absorption from the use of menstrual cups and paper diapers for infants (adults) were 0.77 and 2.1 (1.2) ng/kg-bw/ day, which contributed more than normal dust ingestion. The estimated emission of paper diapers and sanitary pads into the environment was 2.58 and 322 kg/year with an assumed leaching rate of 100%. The potential exposure of PFAS through the use of personal hygiene products observed in this work suggests a previously unreported exposure pathway of these chemicals to humans.

Predictors of Serum Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances Concentrations among U.S. Couples Attending a Fertility Clinic

“…3,4 Humans are exposed to PFAS through ingestion of contaminated drinking water and food, inhalation of indoor air, and contact with other PFAS-containing media, such as consumer and personal care products (PCPs). 5,6 Fish and shellfish are important sources of PFAS exposure due to PFAS bioaccumulation in aquatic life. 7 PFAS can also migrate from fluorochemical-treated food contact papers into food, which leads to direct exposure to human.…”

“…Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are man-made environmentally persistent chemicals that are present in many consumer products including water-proof clothes, oil-resistant food packaging materials, and cosmetics for their water- and oil-resistant properties. , Long-alkyl chain PFAS have biological half-lives over 3 years. , Humans are exposed to PFAS through ingestion of contaminated drinking water and food, inhalation of indoor air, and contact with other PFAS-containing media, such as consumer and personal care products (PCPs). , Fish and shellfish are important sources of PFAS exposure due to PFAS bioaccumulation in aquatic life . PFAS can also migrate from fluorochemical-treated food contact papers into food, which leads to direct exposure to human .…”

Poly- and Perfluoroalkyl Substance (PFAS) Analysis in Environmental Matrices: An Overview of the Extraction and Chromatographic Detection Methods

“…The transport of PFASs from the environment to the human body occurs though several environmental media, such as water, sediments, air, and dust [12]. Therefore, they can enter the human body through digestive, respiratory, and cutaneous pathways [13]. Liver and blood are the main accumulative pathways of PFASs [14][15][16].…”

Correspondence on “Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in Personal Hygiene Products: The Implications for Human Exposure and Emission to the Environment”

“…Z hou et al measured per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in hygiene products in China and estimated human exposure and emissions to the environment. 1 It is interesting to note that relatively high concentrations of PFOA were detected in diaper products, which could contribute to infant exposure to PFAS.…”