Survey of chemical substances in consumer products, 68 – Mapping of perfume in toys and children's articles

Mapping of perfume in toys and children's articles

4 Perfume and flavouring agents

4.1 Fragrances
4.2 Use of fragrances
4.3 Classification of fragrances
4.4 Investigations of perfume substances in children's articles

4.1 Fragrances

The use of perfumes and fragrances was already described for the civilisations of ancient times. At that time, the use of perfumes was a luxury, reserved the elite of society. The perfumes were used in connection with mortuary rituals, anointments and - like today - as part of a beauty care (Frosch et al. 1998, Frosell 1982).

The perfumes of that time were produced on the basis of extracts of natural occurring substances from for instance flowers, trees, herbs and animal secretions. The development within the chemical industry - especially after the Second World War - has made it possible to produce the popular fragrances synthetically. This has lowered the price and increased the availability (Frosell 1982).

The fragrant single components of a perfume are called fragrances. The specific scents of certain perfumes are created by combining different fragrances. The number of fragrances in perfumes varies from a few to several hundred (Rastogi et al. 1994).

Perfume substances mainly consist of organic compounds that are synthetically or naturally produced (Frosell 1982).

4.2 Use of fragrances

Due to the lower price of fragrances, and thus increased availability for producers and consumers, the use of the substances has grown. Today, perfume and fragrances are used for a wide range of products that in earlier years were only available in unscented versions. This applies to toys and children's articles.

Perfumes are added to products to make them more attractive; either by giving the product a certain character or by camouflaging unpleasant odours from other ingredients in the product (Rastogi et al. 1994). There is also a tendency that fragrances are added to products for children to differentiate the products from other products of the same kind. Examples hereof are writing paper, erasers, speed markers, teddy bears, etc. to which fragrances are added to differentiate them from similar non-scented products on the market.

There are examples that the producers of fragrant babies' toys state in the marketing of their products that the scent contributes to stimulate the development of babies' senses when playing with the products. In extreme cases, the scent/odour of the toys constitutes the actual play function of the products. An example hereof is rubber figures which liberates a strong smell at mechanical pressure.

4.3 Classification of fragrances

There are several thousands of different fragrances. As some of these may provoke allergy, some authorities have chosen to focus on limiting the use of these substances to a minimum. EU's Scientific Committee on Cosmetics (SCCNFP) has classified 24 fragrances as sensitizing. These substances are listed in table 4.1 below and are in focus in this investigation.

Click her to see Tabel 4.1

4.4 Investigations of perfume substances in children's articles

Whereas a large number of investigations have been focussing on fragrances and perfume substances in cosmetics, creams, soaps and shampoos (Rastogi et al. 1994, Rastogi et al. 1995a, Rastogi et al. 1995b, Rastogi et al. 1998, Rastogi et al. 2001, the Danish Environmental Protection Agency 2002 b) and cleaning products and air fresheners (the Danish Environmental Protection Agency 2002 a, the Danish Environmental Protection Agency 2003), there is only a few examples in literature of investigations aimed at children's products.

Rastogi et al. (1999) has investigated the content of fragrances in cosmetics for children, skin and body care products and cosmetic toys. 25 cosmetic products for children have been tested for content of sensitizing substances, etc. The products included shampoo, cream, bath gel, eau de toilette, eau de perfume, deodorant, baby oil, chap stick, lipstick, lip gloss and a perfume mixing set (toys), etc. Nearly all the tested products contained one or more sensitizing substance(s). The lowest concentrations were found in shampoos, bath gels and lip products (typically from below 0,001-0.02 %). The concentrations of the eau de toilette, eau de perfume and deodorant were between 0.01 and 0.5 %, whereas the highest concentrations of sensitizing substances were identified in the perfume mixing set (0.4-3.7 %).

The Danish Environmental Protection Agency (2001) has made a review of children's contact with chemical substances - including perfume substances - in everyday life. The result of the investigation indicated that children to a wide extent are exposed to perfume, etc. in everyday life. The review also demonstrated that many of the product types are available in both scented and unscented versions. This applies to products like soaps, creams, shampoos, make-up, nappies and towelettes.