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Environ Int

Title:		Volatile organic compounds in feminine hygiene products sold in the US market: A survey of products and health risks
Author(s):		Lin N; Ding N; Meza-Wilson E; Manuradha Devasurendra A; Godwin C; Kyun Park S; Batterman S;
Address:		"Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA. Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA. College of Literature, Science, and the Arts, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA. Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA. Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA. Electronic address: stuartb@umich.edu"
Journal Title:		Environ Int
Year:		2020
Volume:		20200828
Issue:
Page Number:		105740 -
DOI:		10.1016/j.envint.2020.105740
ISSN/ISBN:		1873-6750 (Electronic) 0160-4120 (Print) 0160-4120 (Linking)
Abstract:		"Feminine hygiene products (FHPs) are used on highly permeable and sensitive vaginal and vulvar tissues by many women. These products contain a variety of chemicals, and few regulations require disclosure of their ingredients. The objectives of this study are to identify volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that may be present in these products and to evaluate the potential for exposure and health risk associated with product use. We collected 79 commercially available FHPs, including washes, tampons, menstrual pads, wipes, sprays, powders and moisturizers, and analyzed their composition using purge and trap sampling, thermal desorption, gas chromatography and mass spectroscopy. Exposures and risks were modeled using reasonable upper bound exposure scenarios. The highest VOC concentrations (as total target VOCs) were found in washes, sprays and powders, with median concentrations from 25,000 to 34,000?ª+ng/g. Benzene (maximum: 3,604?ª+ng/g) was detected in 83% of the collected products, and 1,4-dioxane (maximum: 24,354?ª+ng/g) in 50% of the products. VOC composition depended on the FHP type, manufacturer and brand. Products labeled as 'organic,' 'natural,' or 'for sensitive skin' did not necessarily have lower VOC concentrations. For most FHPs, calculated risks were low; however, menstrual pads had hazard ratios of up to 11, sprays and powders had hazard ratios of up to 2.2 and excess cancer risks of up to 2.1?ª+x?ª+10(-6), and washes had excess cancer risks of up to 3.3?ª+x?ª+10(-6). Our data suggest that all tested FHPs contained some toxic VOCs, and that risks of using some products should be addressed. We recommend the elimination of toxic ingredients and the disclosure of all chemicals that are used in these products"
Keywords:		*Air Pollutants/analysis Environmental Monitoring Female Feminine Hygiene Products Humans Surveys and Questionnaires *Volatile Organic Compounds/analysis Exposure Health risk Volatile organic compounds;
Notes:		"MedlineLin, Nan Ding, Ning Meza-Wilson, Emily Manuradha Devasurendra, Amila Godwin, Christopher Kyun Park, Sung Batterman, Stuart eng P30 ES017885/ES/NIEHS NIH HHS/ Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural Netherlands 2020/09/01 Environ Int. 2020 Nov; 144:105740. doi: 10.1016/j.envint.2020.105740. Epub 2020 Aug 28"