An Exposure-based Risk Assessment Approach to Safety Evaluation of Laundry Detergent Products

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PP-29-195 Background/Aims: Manufacturers of laundry detergent products are responsible for ensuring the safety of new ingredients and products before their introduction into the market place. A risk assessment-based approach has been applied to safety evaluation of the ingredients and finished product formulations using a 4-step process: hazard identification, dose-response assessment, exposure assessment, and risk characterization. A dermal sensitization quantitative risk assessment (QRA) for a detergent ingredient of concern was conducted by incorporating different consumer habits and practices (H&P). Methods: Extensive consumer studies were conducted to understand consumer H&P for laundry detergent products in prospective market places to estimate consumer exposure to the product ingredients of safety concern though a product-specific route of exposure. Specific parameters include but are not limited to the following: machine-wash use, hand-wash use, bleach co-use habits, the product concentrations in wash solution, and period of hand-washing laundry. A dermal sensitization QRA was conducted for a detergent ingredient of concern based on consumer H&P data in prospective markets. Results: Recent P&G H&P data showed that consumers in certain developing markets co-use bleach with laundry detergent products for their hand-washing of fabrics which may affect overall risk assessment for the product. In this presentation, we described the following: (1) comprehensive H&P data for consumers' bleach co-use habits for hand-washing laundry in developing markets and (2) a dermal sensitization QRA for a representative ingredient, taking into consideration different regional H&P for laundry detergent products. Conclusion: A risk assessment-based approach has been successfully used to ensure safety of a detergent ingredient taking into account of different consumer H&P for detergent products in prospective market places.