Simultaneous determination of seven phthalates and four parabens in cosmetic products using HPLC‐DAD and GC‐MS methods

Abstract

Original PaperSimultaneous determination of seven phthalates and four parabens in cosmetic products using HPLC-DAD and GC-MS methods Studies on the determination of seven kinds of phthalates, i. e. diethyl phthalate, dipropyl phthalate, dibutyl phthalate, benzyl butyl phthalate, dicyclohexyl phthalate, di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, and dioctyl phthalate, and four parabens, i. e. methylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben, and butylparaben, in 15 kinds of cosmetic products, including hair sprays, perfumes, deodorants, cream, lotion, etc., by HPLC with diode array detection and GC-MS in electron impact ionization mode with selected-ion monitoring have been carried out. Methods have been developed for both qualitative and quantitative detection of phthalates and parabens. Extraction, clean-up, and analysis procedures have been optimized. HPLC and GC-MS determinations were performed after sonication-assisted extraction with methanol and clean-up with C18 SPE. These techniques permit detection of phthalates at a level of 10.0 -100.0 lg/kg and of parabens at a level of 20.0 -200.0 lg/kg. Overall recoveries were 85 -108% with RSD values of 4.2 -8.8%. Only one of the 15 examined samples was free from phthalates and parabens. The remaining 14 samples were found to contain at least three or more of these phthalates and/or parabens. The predominant phthalates and parabens detected in the studied samples were methylparaben, propylparaben, diethyl phthalate, dibutyl phthalate, dicyclohexyl phthalate, and di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate. The residue level is at 1.22 -5289 mg/kg.

Paraben esters: review of recent studies of endocrine toxicity, absorption, esterase and human exposure, and discussion of potential human health risks

“…With the continued use of parabens in so wide a range of skincare products (Elder, 1984;Rastogi et al, 1995;Shen et al, 2007) and with such ubiquitous distribution of parabens in the domestic environment that they can now be detected not only in body tissues but in house dust (Canosa et al, 2007), it is important to consider whether there are wider implications, particularly for skin, which is the body tissue with which the topical cosmetics will be in immediate contact. Oestrogens have long been known to have a profound in½uence on skin development and composition, and the reduction in oestrogen levels at menopause results in changes associated with aging (Thornton, 2002;Hall and Phillips, 2005;Verdier-Sevrain et al, 2006).…”

“…Elder (1984) estimated that parabens were used in 13 200 different cosmetic formulations and independent analyses of cosmetic products found parabens in 99% of leave-on products (Rastogi et al, 1995). Recent analyses con¼rm the presence of methylparaben and propylparaben in the majority of types of cosmetics tested including deodorants, creams and lotions (Shen et al, 2007). Despite this, the regulatory toxicology data package does not have adequate carcinogenicity or reproductive toxicology studies to meet modern regulatory standards.…”

“…With the continued use of parabens in the majority of bodycare cosmetics (Shen et al, 2007) and this evidence for systemic absorption of parabens following topical cosmetic application to human subjects (Janjua et al, 2007;2008a), there is a need to now ascertain total blood and urine levels for all the paraben esters and their common metabolite p-hydroxybenzoic acid in order to more clearly understand whole body burdens in the population. A risk assessment of the oestrogen equivalents of paraben absorbed from a single daily application of a paraben-containing lotion has been calculated to be signi¼cant (Harvey and Everett, 2006), and Ye et al (2006a) noted that, in a demographically diverse group of 100 US male and female adults with no known unusual exposure to parabens, methylparaben and propylparaben were detected in 96% of the samples.…”

“…In 1984, it was estimated that parabens were used in 13 200 different cosmetic formulations (Elder, 1984) and a survey of 215 cosmetic products in 1995 found parabens in 99% of leave-on products and 77% of rinse-off products (Rastogi et al, 1995). More recent studies continue to show the presence of parabens, primarily methylparaben and propylparaben (also in combination with phthalates) in the majority of body care cosmetics analysed, including deodorants, creams and lotions (Shen et al, 2007). The European Union permits the use of parabens in cosmetic products with a maximum concentration of each one of 0.4% and a total maximum concentration of 0.8% (EU Cosmetics Directive 76/768/EEC).…”

Evidence suggesting that di-n-butyl phthalate has antiandrogenic effects in fish

“…They are also frequently used in the production of pesticides, medications, cosmetics, and a number of other widely used products [1,2].…”