Kortlægning af kemiske stoffer i forbrugerprodukter, 69 – Kortlægning og sundheds- og miljømæssig vurdering af håndsæbe

Kortlægning og sundheds- og miljømæssig vurdering af håndsæbe

Summary and conclusions

In the spring of 2005, DTC and DHI have carried out a survey of liquid hand soaps for sale partly via retail distribution (consumer products) and partly for commercial use. In May 2005, 25 liquid hand soaps were purchased in retail outlets. In addition, information has been obtained on 25 liquid hand soaps for professional use. Product ingredients have been identified based on the products' list of ingredients and product safety data sheets, and a survey was carried out to determine if the products contain sensitizing perfumery materials and preservatives. Fifteen of the products were selected for chemical analysis of 26 particularly sensitizing fragrances. Furthermore, 3 of the 15 products were selected for analysis of the preservative methyldibromoglutaronitrile. Eleven of the 15 products were consumer products, 4 products were for commercial use.

The result of the survey of liquid hand soaps showed that the content of sensitizing perfumery materials was listed on the product label of a few products (both consumer products and products for commercial use), and that different (potentially) sensitizing preservatives are used in liquid hand soaps. The result of the chemical analyses showed discrepancies between the lists of ingredients and the actual content, as 6 of the 15 analysed products contained sensitizing perfumery materials in concentrations > 0.01% that was not listed on the product label.

According to the EU Cosmetics Directive the concentration of 26 sensitizing perfumery materials must be listed on the products' INCI list of ingredients if the perfumery materials appear in concentrations > 0.01% in rinse-off products. This is to ensure that particularly sensitive consumers can avoid products with specific perfumery materials and thereby to reduce the number of cases of allergy.

To assess the safety concerning health effects, 6 of the perfumery materials contained in high concentrations in the products were selected for further evaluation. When calculating the exposure to the sensitizing perfumery materials the amount of liquid hand soap used when washing hands was determined at 1 g soap per wash. The exposure calculations showed a very low daily exposure and a fully acceptable safety margin (MoS) for perfumery materials for both adults and children alike.

However, because of the sensitizing risk of perfumery materials and as there is no lower concentration limit for the sensitizing effects of the substances, it may be concluded that particularly sensitive persons, including children and people with allergy, have a risk of developing allergy when using products for which the obligation of labelling of perfumery materials apply.

To assess the environmental properties of the products, 8 substances were selected for further exposure assessment that were representative or of particularly interest. The 8 substances comprised 4 tensides and 4 preservatives.

The exposure calculations showed that the use of liquid hand soaps may cause harmful effects in the aquatic environment by discharge of wastewater to areas characterised by a limited exchange of water, such as the inner part of an inlet. There is no predicted risk of effects in open waters with a regular water flow.