[Analyses of cosmetic sanitary quality in Hunan Province in 2010].
OBJECTIVE
To establish a scientific foundation for cosmetic supervision and administration based on the analysis of the sanitary quality of cosmetics in Hunan Province during 2010.


METHODS
According to Cosmetic Sanitary Standards (set by the Ministry of Health, People's Republic of China), 150 random samples of cosmetics in Hunan were assayed both for microbial items (including total plate count, fungus and yeast, fecal coliform, staphylococcus aureus, pseudomonas aeruginosa) and chemical items (including 17 kinds of prohibited substances and 14 kinds of restricted substances).


RESULTS
The total rate of cosmetics failing to meet the standards was 22.0% of the 150 samples; specific rates for failing perfumes, skin care products (eye cream) and deodorant products were, relatively, 70.6%, 60.00%, and 44.4%. Four kinds of prohibited substances, including diethyl phthalate, acrylamide, asbestos and neodymium, as well as 2 kinds of restricted substances, including triclosan and formaldehyde, were found to exceed standards. None of microbial items exceeded standard levels.


CONCLUSIONS
The sanitary quality control of cosmetics is lax. Administrative departments should not only reinforce their post-production supervision with respect to cosmetics, but also consolidate their control over the process of cosmetic production in order to solve the problem of toxic residues or illegal and intentional adulterations.
Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, Central South University, Changsha, China.
Yanhong
Y
Liu
Zhenqiu
Z
Sun
Jingcheng
J
Shi
Minxue
M
Shen
Jingxuan
J
Hu
Shiyue
S
Lei
Ming
M
Hu
D002681:China; D003358:Cosmetics / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000592:standards; D005557:Formaldehyde / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D010795:Phthalic Acids / Q000302:isolation & purification; D011786:Quality Control; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000302:isolation & purification
D003358:Cosmetics; D010795:Phthalic Acids; D005557:Formaldehyde; C007379:diethyl phthalate