Survey of chemical substances in consumer products, 69. – Survey of liquid hand soaps, including health and environmental assessments

Survey of liquid hand soaps, including health and environmental assessments

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 occupational 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 fragrance chemicals and preservatives reported as contact allergens. Fifteen of the products were selected for chemical analysis of 26 particularly sensitizing fragrance chemicals. Furthermore, 3 of the 15 products were selected for analysis of the preservative Methyldibromoglutaronitrile. 11 of the 15 products were consumer products, 4 products were for occupational use.

The result of the survey of liquid hand soaps showed that the content of fragrance chemicals reported as contact allergens was listed on the product label of a few products (both consumer products and products for occupational use), and that different (potentially) preservatives reported as contact allergens 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 fragrance chemicals reported as contact allergens in concentrations > 0.01% that was not listed on the product label. Methyldibromoglutaronitrile was not detected in the 3 product which were analysed for the substance.

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

To assess the safety of the products concerning health effects, 6 of the fragrance chemicals contained in high concentrations in the products were selected for further evaluation. When calculating the exposure to the fragrance chemicals reported as contact allergens 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 fragrance chemicals 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 fragrance chemicals 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 surfactants 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.