From the shop to the drain — Volatile methylsiloxanes in cosmetics and personal care products

Abstract

Organosiloxanes are widely used in the formulation of a broad range of cosmetic and personal care products (PCPs), including creams and lotions, bath soaps, shampoo and hair care products to soften, smooth, and moisten. In fact, the intensive and widespread use of organosiloxanes combined with their lipophilic nature, makes them interesting targets for future research, particularly in the toxicology area.This study focused on determining the concentration levels of these compounds in the bestselling brands of PCPs in the Oporto region (Portugal), allowing the estimation of dermal and inhalation exposure to siloxanes and the evaluation of the quantities released to the environment “down-the-drain” and to air. To accomplish this task, a QuEChERS technique (“Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged, and Safe”) was employed to extract the siloxanes from the target PCPs, which has never been tested before. The resulting extract was analysed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). The limits of detection varied between 0.17 (L2) and 3.75ngg−1 (L5), being much lower than any values reported in the literature for this kind of products. In general, satisfactory precision (<10%) and accuracy values (average recovery of 84%) were obtained.123 PCPs were analysed (moisturizers, deodorants, body and hair washes, toilet soaps, toothpastes and shaving products) and volatile methylsiloxanes were detected in 96% of the samples, in concentrations between 0.003μgg−1 and 1203μgg−1. Shampoo exhibited the highest concentration for cyclic and aftershaves for linear siloxanes. Combining these results with the daily usage amounts, an average daily dermal exposure of 25.04μgkgbw−1day−1 for adults and 0.35μgkgbw−1day−1 for baby/children was estimated. The main contributors for adult dermal exposure were body moisturizers, followed by facial creams and aftershaves, while for babies/children were body moisturizers, followed by shower gel and shampoo. Similarly, the average daily inhalation exposure was also estimated. Values of 1.56μgkgbw−1day−1 for adults and 0.03μgkgbw−1day−1 for babies/children were calculated. An estimate of the siloxanes amount released “down-the-drain” into the sewage systems through the use of toiletries was also performed. An emission per capita between 49.25 and 9574μgday−1 (mean: 1817μgday−1) is expected and shampoo and shower gel presented the higher mean total values (1008μgday−1 and 473.3μgday−1, respectively). In the worst-case scenario, D5 and D3 were the predominant siloxanes in the effluents with 3336μgday−1 and 3789μgday−1, respectively. Regarding the air emissions per capita, values between 8.33 and 6109μgday−1 (mean: 1607μgday−1) are expected and D5 and D6 were the predominant siloxanes.