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Formaldehyde may be found in cosmetic products even when unlabelled

Malinauskiene, Laura LU ; Blaziene, Audra ; Chomiciene, Anzelika and Isaksson, Marléne LU (2015) In Open Medicine (Poland) 10(1). p.323-328
Abstract

Concomitant contact allergy to formaldehyde and formaldehyde-releasers remains common among patients with allergic contact dermatitis. Concentration of free formaldehyde in cosmetic products within allowed limits have been shown to induce dermatitis from shortterm use on normal skin. The aim of this study was to investigate the formaldehyde content of cosmetic products made in Lithuania. 42 samples were analysed with the chromotropic acid (CA) method for semi-quantitative formaldehyde determination. These included 24 leave-on (e.g., creams, lotions) and 18 rinse-off (e.g., shampoos, soaps) products. Formaldehyde releasers were declared on the labels of 10 products. No formaldehyde releaser was declared on the label of the only face... (More)

Concomitant contact allergy to formaldehyde and formaldehyde-releasers remains common among patients with allergic contact dermatitis. Concentration of free formaldehyde in cosmetic products within allowed limits have been shown to induce dermatitis from shortterm use on normal skin. The aim of this study was to investigate the formaldehyde content of cosmetic products made in Lithuania. 42 samples were analysed with the chromotropic acid (CA) method for semi-quantitative formaldehyde determination. These included 24 leave-on (e.g., creams, lotions) and 18 rinse-off (e.g., shampoos, soaps) products. Formaldehyde releasers were declared on the labels of 10 products. No formaldehyde releaser was declared on the label of the only face cream investigated, but levels of free formaldehyde with the CA method was >40 mg/ml and when analysed with a high-performance liquid chromatographic method - 532 ppm. According to the EU Cosmetic directive, if the concentration of formaldehyde is above 0.05% a cosmetic product must be labelled "contains formaldehyde". It could be difficult for patients allergic to formaldehyde to avoid contact with products containing it as its presence cannot be determined from the ingredient labelling with certainty. The CA method is a simple and reliable method for detecting formaldehyde presence in cosmetic products.

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author
; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
chromotropic acid, formaldehyde, formaldehyde-releaser, high-performance liquid chromatography
in
Open Medicine (Poland)
volume
10
issue
1
pages
323 - 328
publisher
De Gruyter
external identifiers
  • scopus:84939518911
ISSN
2391-5463
DOI
10.1515/med-2015-0047
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
f0a226d2-2b19-4790-bcd5-efdc9c6f26fc
date added to LUP
2019-06-30 22:56:34
date last changed
2025-04-04 14:04:24
@article{f0a226d2-2b19-4790-bcd5-efdc9c6f26fc,
  abstract     = {{<p>Concomitant contact allergy to formaldehyde and formaldehyde-releasers remains common among patients with allergic contact dermatitis. Concentration of free formaldehyde in cosmetic products within allowed limits have been shown to induce dermatitis from shortterm use on normal skin. The aim of this study was to investigate the formaldehyde content of cosmetic products made in Lithuania. 42 samples were analysed with the chromotropic acid (CA) method for semi-quantitative formaldehyde determination. These included 24 leave-on (e.g., creams, lotions) and 18 rinse-off (e.g., shampoos, soaps) products. Formaldehyde releasers were declared on the labels of 10 products. No formaldehyde releaser was declared on the label of the only face cream investigated, but levels of free formaldehyde with the CA method was &gt;40 mg/ml and when analysed with a high-performance liquid chromatographic method - 532 ppm. According to the EU Cosmetic directive, if the concentration of formaldehyde is above 0.05% a cosmetic product must be labelled "contains formaldehyde". It could be difficult for patients allergic to formaldehyde to avoid contact with products containing it as its presence cannot be determined from the ingredient labelling with certainty. The CA method is a simple and reliable method for detecting formaldehyde presence in cosmetic products.</p>}},
  author       = {{Malinauskiene, Laura and Blaziene, Audra and Chomiciene, Anzelika and Isaksson, Marléne}},
  issn         = {{2391-5463}},
  keywords     = {{chromotropic acid; formaldehyde; formaldehyde-releaser; high-performance liquid chromatography}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{05}},
  number       = {{1}},
  pages        = {{323--328}},
  publisher    = {{De Gruyter}},
  series       = {{Open Medicine (Poland)}},
  title        = {{Formaldehyde may be found in cosmetic products even when unlabelled}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1515/med-2015-0047}},
  doi          = {{10.1515/med-2015-0047}},
  volume       = {{10}},
  year         = {{2015}},
}