| Front page | | Contents | | Previous | | Next |

Survey and health assesment of chemicals substances in pleasure gel

2 Screening of substances

• 2.1 Chemical screening analysis
  • 2.1.1 Method
  • 2.1.2 Results
• 2.2 Health screening
  • 2.2.1 Initial selection
  • 2.2.2 Health screening

With a starting point in the selection criteria described in chapter 1.5.2, chemical screening was carried out to identify the content of organic substances in the selected products stated in chapter 1.5.3 with the objective to identify the most essential substances of importance to health.

Screening took place partly as a chemical screening analysis and partly as an initial health assessment of the substances found, based on few chosen data.

2.1 Chemical screening analysis

2.1.1 Method

As the composition of the analysed products varied, cf. Table 1.3 and Table 1.4, a headspace based analysis method was chosen for the selection of applied analysis principle.

The applied sampling method, on the basis of Solid Phase Micro Extraction (SPME), measures organic compounds from volatile, organic solvents (ethanol, acetone etc.) to the more semi-volatile compounds (parabenes, phthalates etc.).

In connection with the survey of the informative labelling of the examined products no indication of substances appeared that had not been included in the applied measuring method.

In connection with the test preparation, a 1.0 g sample was weighed in a 20 ml membrane glass. Headspace was sampled for 15 min. at SPME and subsequently analysed by means of gas chromatography with mass spectrometric detection (GC/MS). The following parameters were applied:

The demonstrated components were solely identified by using NIST library (The NIST Mass Spectral Search Program) covering mass spectra and manual interpretation of the spectra and the use of AMDIS deconvolation software. Therefore, it is very probable that the substances identified in connection with the performed screening exist where they were demonstrated.

In connection with the performed qualitative screening no quantitative evaluation of the content of the identified, organic compounds was carried out.

2.1.2 Results

The total results from the screening of the 21 analysed products appear from Table 2.1. Due to delayed delivery, product 24 was not included in the screening phase.

Table 2.1 Initial chemical screening of pleasure gels

Table 2.1 continued – Initial chemical screening of pleasure gels

2.2 Health screening

2.2.1 Initial selection

It was not anticipated that so many different substances would be identified at the initial chemical screening and therefore substances were selected for the health screening.

The selection was carried out in the light of information stated in Table 2.2 in consultation with the Danish Environmental Protection Agency.

Table 2.2 Substances found during screening of selected products

Substances that EU scientific committee for cosmetics has evaluated as allergic odorous substances have been marked with ”*”. In connection with substances marked with”**” classification was obtained from the Danish advisory list for self-classification (Vejledende liste, 2001).

An ”-” stated under the column "Classification" means that the substance neither was entered on the dangerous substance list nor on the Danish advisory list.

Selection took place among the 63 substances. Allergy-causing odorous substances and other substances classified with regard to danger to health were given priority.

In connection with product 15 it was declared that it contained Spanish fly (cantharides). In connection with the performed chemical screening no content of cantharides was found in the product.

2.2.2 Health screening

A health screening was carried out for the 28 selected substances.

Table 2.3 shows selected physical-chemical data of the substances.

The physical-chemical data of the selected substances was found by searching in chemid and HSDB under TOXNET. Molecule weight was found in HSDB, unless something else is stated. Data about boiling point, melting point, Log K_OW, water solubility and steam pressure was found in TOXNET/chemid/physical prop.

Table 2.3 Physical-chemical data of selected substances in pleasure gel

* Sublimation

As it appears from Table 2.3, 10 substances are fixed substances at room temperature and 13 substances are liquid at room temperature. Data is missing for 5 substances.

For most of the substances, the boiling point is in the area of/or above 200 °C. Only the substance pyrazin has a boiling point of 115 °C. In addition, the substance cantharides changes from fixed substance to gas phase at 84 °C (sublimes).

A steam pressure was found for rather few substances. The steam pressures are low – for D-Limonene it is 2 mm Hg and less than 1 mm Hg for all others. Therefore, only a limited amount of the substances will evaporate and be taken in through the respiratory passages.

None of the selected substances are fully miscible with water. Half of the substances have a solubility in water of between 1 and 200 g while the other half has a solubility of less than 1 g per litre water.

The substance pyrazin, with a solubility of 200 g/litre, has a negative Log K_OW, meaning that the substance is much more soluble in water than in fatty substances (octanol).

Only one single substance, D-Limonene, has a Log K_OW of more than 4, which according to the directions for risk assessment (TGD, 2003) means that the substance to a limited degree can be absorbed through the skin. A rather large amount of substances with high water solubility have a Log K_OW of between 1 and 2, while the substances with low water solubility have a Log K_OW of between 3 and 4.

With regard to classification a search was performed in the list of dangerous substances and in the advisory list for self-classification from the Danish Environmental Protection Agency. The data found in the advisory list is marked with”**”.

All substances were searched for in the INCI database (INCI , 2005). It is stated if the substances are on the list and which information the list gives about the function and limitations of the substances. The limitations etc. in the law on cosmetics are also stated. In addition, it is mentioned if the substance appears on the EU’s scientific committee for cosmetic’s list of allergenic perfume substances.

If the requirements in the Statutory Order on cosmetics were valid for pleasure gel, all substances would have to be declared. If e.g. the 26 allergy-causing perfume substances are in question, then the name of the substance should be stated, when the concentration exceeds 0.001 % in products that are not cleaned off, and 0.01 % in products that are cleaned off. All other types of perfume have to be declared as perfume.

According to the Statutory Order on classification, enclosure 2, item 2.13, it is a requirement for all products that allergy-causing substances forming part of concentrations > 0.1 % have to be provided with the following informative labelling "Contains (substance). Allergic reaction can arise".

Table 2.4 Classification, function, requirements and limitations of selected substances in pleasure gel

1: According to the EU’s scientific committee for cosmetic’s list of allergenic perfume substances or the Danish advisory list for self-classification the product has to be provided with the following labelling "Contains (substance). Allergic reaction can arise" if the concentration is > = 0.1 %.

Table 2.4 shows that 21 out of 28 substances were classified either on the list of dangerous substances or on the Danish advisory list for self-classification.

Among the classified substances there is one substance, phenol, and one self-classified substance, eugenol, for which it is stated that there is a risk of genetic damages.

A number of substances are classified R43: Can cause allergy when in contact with the skin. 10 substances are in question. In addition, 13 substances have been entered on the EU’s scientific committee for cosmetics list of allergenic perfume substances. Some substances have been both R43 classified and entered on the EU list. A total of 18 substances are known to cause or suspected of causing allergy when in contact with the skin.

On the most recent list of dangerous substances phenol has been upgraded from poisonous and caustic in pure condition to also being injurious to health during prolonged exposure (R48) and with possible permanent damage to health (R68). As the substance appears in very small amounts such acute or chronic health effects will hardly manifest themselves.

A number of substances are classified R22: Intake is dangerous. This risk specification is considered less essential as the substances are assumed to appear in very small quantities.

As it appears from the results from the search on the INCI list, 23 out of the 28 substances have been entered on the list. From the list it appears that four preservatives (2-Phenoxyethanol, Benzyl alcohol, Dehydro acetic acid, 1-Phenoxy propan-2-ol) may exist in a given amount. The substances cantharides and lidocain have not been entered on the INCI list and according to the Statutory Order on cosmetics they are forbidden.

In addition, there are a number of substances that are entered on enclosure 3 of the Statutory Order on cosmetics concerning limitations and conditions. 13 substances exist that have to be labelled when they appear in concentrations exceeding 0.001 % (10 µg/gram) in products that are not washed off and 0.01 % (100 µg/gram) in products that are washed off.

| Front page | | Contents | | Previous | | Next | | Top |

Version 1.0 September 2006, © Danish Environmental Protection Agency