title: HPLC-UV Method for the Identification and Screening of Hydroquinone, Ethers of Hydroquinone and Corticosteroids Possibly Used as Skin-Whitening Agents in Illicit Cosmetic Products.
abstract: Corticosteroids, hydroquinone and its ethers are regulated in cosmetics by the Regulation 1223/2009. As corticosteroids are forbidden to be used in cosmetics and cannot be present as contaminants or impurities, an identification of one of these illicit compounds deliberately introduced in these types of cosmetics is enough for market survey control. In order to quickly identify skin-whitening agents present in illegal cosmetics, this article proposes an HPLC-UV method for the identification and screening of hydroquinone, 3 ethers of hydroquinone and 39 corticosteroids that may be found in skin-whitening products. Two elution gradients were developed to separate all compounds. The main solvent gradient (A) allows the separation of 39 compounds among the 43 compounds considered in 50 min. Limits of detection on skin-whitening cosmetics are given. For compounds not separated, a complementary gradient elution (B) using the same solvents is proposed. Between 2004 and 2009, a market survey on "skin-whitening cosmetic" was performed on 150 samples and highlights that more than half of the products tested do not comply with the Cosmetic Regulation 1223/2009 (amending the Council Directive 76/768/EEC).
authors.affiliation: Agence Nationale de Sécurité du Médicament et des Produits de Santé (ANSM), Direction des Contrôles (CTROL), 143/147 boulevard Anatole France, 93285 Saint-Denis Cedex, France pascal.gimeno@ansm.sante.fr.
authors.forename: Pascal
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gimeno
authors.affiliation: Agence Nationale de Sécurité du Médicament et des Produits de Santé (ANSM), Direction des Contrôles (CTROL), 143/147 boulevard Anatole France, 93285 Saint-Denis Cedex, France.
authors.forename: Annie-Françoise
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Maggio
authors.affiliation: Agence Nationale de Sécurité du Médicament et des Produits de Santé (ANSM), Direction des Contrôles (CTROL), 143/147 boulevard Anatole France, 93285 Saint-Denis Cedex, France.
authors.forename: Marjorie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bancilhon
authors.affiliation: Agence Nationale de Sécurité du Médicament et des Produits de Santé (ANSM), Direction des Contrôles (CTROL), 143/147 boulevard Anatole France, 93285 Saint-Denis Cedex, France.
authors.forename: Nelly
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lassu
authors.affiliation: Agence Nationale de Sécurité du Médicament et des Produits de Santé (ANSM), Direction des Contrôles (CTROL), 143/147 boulevard Anatole France, 93285 Saint-Denis Cedex, France.
authors.forename: Hervé
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gornes
authors.affiliation: Agence Nationale de Sécurité du Médicament et des Produits de Santé (ANSM), Direction des Contrôles (CTROL), 143/147 boulevard Anatole France, 93285 Saint-Denis Cedex, France.
authors.forename: Charlotte
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Brenier
authors.affiliation: Agence Nationale de Sécurité du Médicament et des Produits de Santé (ANSM), Direction des Contrôles (CTROL), 143/147 boulevard Anatole France, 93285 Saint-Denis Cedex, France.
authors.forename: Laurent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lempereur
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / Q000379:methods; D003358:Cosmetics / Q000737:chemistry*; D004335:Drug and Narcotic Control; D004987:Ethers; D005602:France; D006801:Humans; D006873:Hydroquinones / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D013287:Illicit Drugs / Q000737:chemistry*; D057230:Limit of Detection; D062327:Skin Lightening Preparations / Q000737:chemistry*; D013056:Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D003358:Cosmetics; D004987:Ethers; D006873:Hydroquinones; D013287:Illicit Drugs; D062327:Skin Lightening Preparations