Preservatives and fragrances in selected consumer-available cosmetics and detergents.
BACKGROUND
Preservatives and fragrances are important and frequent skin sensitizers, found in a wide range of products intended for personal and occupational use.


OBJECTIVE
To examine the use of preservatives and fragrances in certain cosmetics and detergents on the market. The product types studied were shampoos, hair conditioners, liquid soaps, wet tissues, washing-up liquids, and multi-purpose cleaners.


METHODS
Ingredient labels of 204 cosmetic products and ingredient data sheets of 97 detergents, available on company websites, were examined.


RESULTS
The preservatives most frequently identified were phenoxyethanol, methylparaben, sodium benzoate, propylparaben, and methylchloroisothiazolinone/methylisothiazolinone. Parabens were found in 44% of cosmetics and 9% of detergents; formaldehyde-releasers in 25% of cosmetics and 8% of detergents; and isothiazolinones in 23% of cosmetics and 28% of detergents. The fragrances most frequently identified were linalool, limonene, hexyl cinnamal, butylphenyl methylpropional, and citronellol. Eighty-eight per cent of the products contained fragrances, and any of the 26 fragrances requiring labelling were found in half of the cosmetics and one-third of the detergents.


CONCLUSIONS
Several preservatives and fragrances with well-known skin-sensitizing potential were common in the examined product types. Such products may be used several times a day by consumers and workers.
Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden. kerem.yazar@ki.se
Kerem
K
Yazar
Stina
S
Johnsson
Marie-Louise
ML
Lind
Anders
A
Boman
Carola
C
Lidén
D003257:Consumer Product Safety; D003358:Cosmetics / Q000737:chemistry*; D003902:Detergents / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D010476:Perfume / Q000032:analysis*; D011310:Preservatives, Pharmaceutical / Q000032:analysis*; D011356:Product Labeling; D017592:Skin Care; D012915:Soaps / Q000009:adverse effects
D003358:Cosmetics; D003902:Detergents; D010476:Perfume; D011310:Preservatives, Pharmaceutical; D012915:Soaps