Ingredients In Consumer Products Research Articles

Everyday Uncertainty Work: Making Sense of Biosynthetic Menthol

Although much public engagement with the field of “synthetic biology” has been conducted, there remains little work that develops an appreciation of how people make sense of this field and its concomitant promised futures from within their everyday lives. Using a case study, based on the compound “menthol” (a terpenoid from plants) which synthetic biologists have developed for production in E. coli, we explore how people make sense of uncertainties in promised or feared futures. Menthol is already an ingredient in many consumer products and the pre-existing use of such products may frame people’s everyday techniques for understanding biosynthetic menthol, with implications for their appreciation of synthetic biology more generally. We adopted a range of sensory methods, including “pop-up” stalls, sketch research, object elicitation interviews and home tours, to explore the everyday situations in which menthol already figures. Participants used a range of strategies, including deferring judgment, invoking other actors as mediators, using their own bodily experiences and using existing moral repertoires, to respond to biosynthetic possibilities. We deploy the concept of “everyday uncertainty work” and show that it is a useful one for understanding how people’s everyday epistemic cultures of uncertainty are routinely adapted to the anticipation of sociotechnical uncertainties, such as those that accompany promissory accounts of science. The implications for these findings for public engagement with technoscience and uncertainty are discussed.

Separation and identification of polymeric dispersants in detergents by two-dimensional liquid chromatography

Polymeric dispersants are an important ingredient in many consumer products. Their separations and identifications in final product formulation can be very challenging due to the presence of multiple polymeric dispersants at different levels and the presence of other polymeric and small-molecule components. In this study, using nearly comprehensive two-dimensional liquid chromatography (2D-LC), various water-soluble polymer and co-polymer dispersants were separated with aqueous size exclusion chromatography (SEC) in the first dimension (1D) and gradient elution reversed-phase liquid chromatography (RPLC) in the second dimension (2D). Detection of the polymeric dispersants was accomplished by evaporative light scattering detector (ELSD). A large ID (8.0 mm) SEC column used in common one-dimensional SEC practices was directly adopted in the 2D setup for rapid method development. A close representation of fully comprehensive 2D separation was achieved even with 60% of 1D eluent diverted to waste, demonstrating the flexibility and versatility of having SEC in 1D for two dimensional separation of polymers. Important method parameters, such as 2D column dimensions and flow rate, gradient conditions, and buffer pH were studied. Practical aspects of routine industrial applications such as solvent consumption and analysis time were also considered. This method was exploited for quick identification of polymeric dispersants in commercial detergent samples. Nine detergent samples were screened and polymeric dispersants and additional polymer features were detected in the samples.

Health risk assessment of dermal and inhalation exposure to deodorants in Korea

In Korea, humidifiers that include biocidal ingredients have caused serious lung injuries and deaths. After these incidents, public concern regarding the use of chemicals in products (i.e., chemical phobia) increased. Frequent health risk assessments and stringent management of consumer products are, therefore, of paramount importance to reduce these serious occurrences. In this study, the irritative and respiratory health effects of deodorants were assessed in relation to dermal and inhalation exposure. In total, 64 deodorants were divided into 5 groups by application type, and health risk assessments were conducted on each group. In total, 26 fragrance ingredients and 27 biocidal ingredients were analyzed and assessed according to their risk to human health. Exposure assessment was performed in two steps. In the tiered 1 assessment (screening), the 95th exposure factor values were used to estimate exposure to assume the worst-case scenario. The maximum concentration in the deodorants was used without considering the application type. In the tiered 2 assessment (detail assessment), the 75th exposure factor values were used to estimate the assumed reasonable exposure to ingredients. In these assessments, the maximum concentration used in the exposure models was determined by the product purpose and application type. The values input into the exposure algorithms were developed via the exposure route. Of the selected fragrance and biocidal active ingredients, 18 fragrance and 13 biocidal ingredients were detected in the deodorants that were assessed. From the results of the tiered 1 assessment, it was necessary for tiered 2 risk assessments to be conducted for 6 ingredients for the inhalation route, and 13 ingredients for the dermal route. The inhalation margin of exposure of ingredients in deodorants of gel/trigger/spray types for home/car and fabric/air usage was above the target margin of exposure. The health risk of 6 evaluated ingredients was relatively low for the inhalation route of exposure.This study showed that the assessed ingredients have no health risks at their maximum concentrations in deodorants. The approach discussed in this study should be used to establish improved guidelines for specific ingredients in consumer products, and for setting limits for newly developed raw materials that may pose dermal and inhalation hazard.

A fucoidan fraction purified from Chnoospora minima; a potential inhibitor of LPS-induced inflammatory responses

Fucoidans are an interesting group of bioactive sulfated polysaccharides abundant in brown seaweeds. The current study highlights the enrichment and extraction of fucoidan from Chnoospora minima by means of enzyme-assistant extraction using Celluclast and evaluation of its anti-inflammatory potential through in vitro and in vivo studies. The purified C. minima fucoidan (F2,4) inhibited the nitrous oxide (NO) production (IC50=27.82±0.88μg/ml) and expression of PGE2 through the subsequent downregulation of iNOS and COX-2 expression in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages. F2,4 downregulated TNF-α, IL1-β, and IL-6 in RAW 264.7 macrophages in a dose-dependent manner and suppressed NO and ROS production in LPS stimulated zebrafish embryos while exerting a protective effect against the cell damage caused by LPS. Polysaccharide structural characterization was performed using FTIR, HPAE-PAD analysis of the monosaccharide content and NMR spectroscopy. Current findings confirm the potential anti-inflammatory activity of fucoidan purified from C. minima and elaborate its potential application as a functional ingredient in consumer products.

Rapid species identification of highly degraded agarwood products from Aquilaria using real-time PCR

Aquilaria species are well known for their expensive agarwood, which is utilized as it is, or used as ingredients in many consumer products. Species validation in agarwood products is important because agarwood price is source-species-dependent. The best approach to establish species identity depends on DNA, as conventional methods (i.e. through morphology) are unable to tell apart products from different Aquilaria sources. However, genomic DNA from processed agarwood is often under poor condition. To overcome this challenge, we adopted real-time PCR technology coupled with species-specific primers derived from single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the chloroplast DNA matK and trnL-trnF sequences. We targeted three commercial Aquilaria species: Aquilaria crassna, Aquilaria malaccensis, and Aquilaria sinensis. Dissociation curves and melting points from real-time analysis were found to be distinct across the species tested. In this study, we demonstrate that the real-time PCR-based technique using species-specific primers is capable of differentiating the three major commercial species, i.e. A. crassna, A. malaccensis, and A. sinensis, even when using highly degraded agarwood products as starting material.

A comparative evaluation of five hazard screening tools.

An increasing number of hazard assessment tools and approaches are being used in the marketplace as a means to differentiate products and ingredients with lower versus higher hazards or to certify what some call greener chemical ingredients in consumer products. Some leading retailers have established policies for product manufacturers and their suppliers to disclose chemical ingredients and their related hazard characteristics often specifying what tools to use. To date, no data exists that show a tool's reliability to provide consistent, credible screening-level hazard scores that can inform greener product selection. We conducted a small pilot study to understand and compare the hazard scoring of several hazard screening tools to determine if hazard and toxicity profiles for chemicals differ. Seven chemicals were selected that represent both natural and man-made chemistries as well as a range of toxicological activity. We conducted the assessments according to each tool provider's guidelines, which included factors such as endpoints, weighting preferences, sources of information, and treatment of data gaps. The results indicate the tools varied in the level of discrimination seen in the scores for these 7 chemicals and that tool classifications of the same chemical varied widely between the tools, ranging from little or no hazard or toxicity to very high hazard or toxicity. The results also highlight the need for transparency in describing the basis for the tool's hazard scores and suggest possible enhancements. Based on this pilot study, tools should not be generalized to fit all situations because their evaluations are context-specific. Before choosing a tool or approach, it is critical that the assessment rationale be clearly defined and matches the selected tool or approach. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2017;13:139-154. © 2016 The Authors. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of SETAC.

ChemInform Abstract: Triclosan: Current Status, Occurrence, Environmental Risks and Bioaccumulation Potential

AbstractReview: 150 refs.

Triclosan: current status, occurrence, environmental risks and bioaccumulation potential.

Triclosan (TCS) is a multi-purpose antimicrobial agent used as a common ingredient in everyday household personal care and consumer products. The expanded use of TCS provides a number of pathways for the compound to enter the environment and it has been detected in sewage treatment plant effluents; surface; ground and drinking water. The physico-chemical properties indicate the bioaccumulation and persistence potential of TCS in the environment. Hence, there is an increasing concern about the presence of TCS in the environment and its potential negative effects on human and animal health. Nevertheless, scarce monitoring data could be one reason for not prioritizing TCS as emerging contaminant. Conventional water and wastewater treatment processes are unable to completely remove the TCS and even form toxic intermediates. Considering the worldwide application of personal care products containing TCS and inefficient removal and its toxic effects on aquatic organisms, the compound should be considered on the priority list of emerging contaminants and its utilization in all products should be regulated.

Extension of the Dermal Sensitisation Threshold (DST) approach to incorporate chemicals classified as reactive

The evaluation of chemicals for their skin sensitising potential is an essential step in ensuring the safety of ingredients in consumer products. Similar to the Threshold of Toxicological Concern, the Dermal Sensitisation Threshold (DST) has been demonstrated to provide effective risk assessments for skin sensitisation in cases where human exposure is low. The DST was originally developed based on a Local Lymph Node Assay (LLNA) dataset and applied to chemicals that were not considered to be directly reactive to skin proteins, and unlikely to initiate the first mechanistic steps leading to the induction of sensitisation. Here we have extended the DST concept to protein reactive chemicals. A probabilistic assessment of the original DST dataset was conducted and a threshold of 64μg/cm2 was derived. In our accompanying publication, a set of structural chemistry based rules was developed to proactively identify highly reactive and potentially highly potent materials which should be excluded from the DST approach. The DST and rule set were benchmarked against a test set of chemicals with LLNA/human data. It is concluded that by combining the reactive DST with knowledge of chemistry a threshold can be established below which there is no appreciable risk of sensitisation for protein-reactive chemicals.

Identification of nanoscale ingredients in commercial food products and their induction of mitochondrially mediated cytotoxic effects on human mesenchymal stem cells.

Titanium dioxide (E171) and silicon dioxide (E551) are common additives found in food products, personal-care products, and many other consumer products used in daily life. Recent studies have reported that these food additives (manufactured E171 and E551) contain nanosized particles of less than 100 nm. However, the particle size distribution and morphology of added TiO2 and SiO2 particles are not typically stated on the package label. Furthermore, there is an increasing debate regarding health and safety concerns related to the use of synthetic food additives containing nanosized ingredients in consumer products. In this study, we identified the size and morphology of TiO2 and SiO2 particles in commercially available food products by using transmission electron microscope (TEM). In addition, the in vitro toxicological effects of E171 and E551 on human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs), an adult stem cell-based model, were assessed using the MTT assay and a flow cytometry-based JC-1 assay. Our TEM results confirmed the presence of nanoscale ingredients in food products, and the in vitro toxicology results indicated that the nanoscale E171 and E551 ingredients induced dose-dependent cytotoxicity, changes in cellular morphology, and the loss of mitochondrial trans-membrane potential in hMSCs. These preliminary results clearly demonstrated that the nanoscale E171 and E551 particles had adverse effects on hMSCs by inducing oxidative stress-mediated cell death. Accordingly, further studies are needed to identify the specific pathway involved, with an emphasis on differential gene expression in hMSCs.

Disposition and Excretion of 14C-AHTN (7-Acetyl-1,1,3,4,4,6-Hexamethyl-1,2,3,4-Tetrahydronaphthalene) and 14C-HHCB (1,3,4,6,7,8-Hexahydro-4,6,6,7,8,8-Hexamethyl-Cyclopenta-Gamma-2-Benzopyran) After Intravenous Administration to Sprague-Dawley Rats and Domestic Pigs

7-Acetyl-1,1,3,4,4,6-hexamethyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene (AHTN ) and 1,3,4,6,7,8-hexahydro-4,6,6,7,8,8-hexamethylcyclopenta-gamma-2-benzopyran (HHCB) are polycyclic musks widely used as fragrance ingredients in consumer products. Because their metabolic fate following systemic exposure is not fully characterized, disposition and excretion of (14)C-AHTN- and (14)C-HHCB-derived radioactivity were studied in Sprague-Dawley rats and domestic pigs following a single intravenous dose. Rats administered with AHTN or HHCB excreted 21% or 28% of the radioactivity in urine and 67% or 61% in feces, respectively, within 7 days. In pigs administered AHTN or HHCB, 86% or 74% of the dose was excreted in the urine, and 12% or 15% in feces, respectively, during the 14-day collection period. Radioactivity in the whole blood and plasma of both species and tissues of rats declined steadily until the end of the study (28 days) for both the materials. Radioactivity in rat adipose tissue reached peak at 2 hours after dosing, decreasing steadily thereafter. Radioactivity in pig blood declined rapidly from 70 ng equivalents/g at 10 minutes to 1 ng equivalent/g or less by 28 days after administration of either AHTN or HHCB. Radioactivity in pig skin and adipose tissue decreased to below the limit of detection by 28 days for both the materials. Thin-layer chromatography showed multiple radioactive components in both species' urine after administration of either material. Components found in the urine of the 2 species were qualitatively similar but quantitatively different. Both AHTN and HHCB were completely metabolized and excreted. No unchanged parent compound was detected in rat or pig urine.

A Compact Exposure: Estimating Inhalation of Engineered Nanoparticles in Cosmetic Powders

The growing use of engineered nanomaterials in consumer products raises questions regarding potential adverse health effects of nano-material exposures. Although a considerable amount of research exists on the toxicity of pure nanomaterials, there is only limited information exposure to nano-materials combined with other ingredients in consumer products. A team of researchers now reports their observations on inhalation exposure through the use of nanotechnology-enabled and non-nanoenabled (“regular”) cosmetic powders [EHP 120(6):885–892; Nazarenko et al.]. There are currently more than 1,300 documented nanoenabled consumer products (that is, products that incorporate ingredients meas-uring 1–100 nm in at least one dimension). This figure represents only those products voluntarily reported by manufacturers. In a previous study, these investigators examined the potential for inhalation of nanoparticles through the use of nanoenabled and regular consumer spray products. This time, they analyzed particle size, shape, agglomeration (clustering), and distribution for three nanoenabled and three regular cosmetic powders. To simulate real-world exposures, they applied each powder to a life-size female mannequin head using its enclosed brush or pad. Then they measured the size distribution and concentration of particles that could be inhaled as a result of such application. Nanoparticles in cosmetics often cluster into larger agglomerations. All particles in the first sample of nanoenabled powder were in the nanoscale range. The second nanoenabled powder contained a wide range of agglomerated particles, with the majority being nanosized. Despite its label, the third nanoenabled powder contained no nanoscale particles. The researchers did find a number of nanoparticles agglomerated with larger particles in two regular powders, which were not marketed as nanoenabled. The third regular powder contained mostly particles measuring greater than 5 mm in diameter. Particles under 100 nm in diameter may travel all the way to the terminal alveoli, where air exchange takes place. However, the authors’ electron microscopy data and airborne particle measurements suggest that exposure to nano-particles would be largely through agglomerates of 5–10 mm and larger, which are likely to lodge in the tracheobronchial and head airway regions. But because these agglomerates have a combined surface area greater than that of solid particles of the same size, they may pose different health hazards than solid particles. The study offers a methodology that could be applied to future studies focusing on real-world inhalation exposures related to nanoenabled consumer products. Results from such studies can help guide estimates of exposures through the short- and long-term use of such products.

Enzymes for the laundry industries: tapping the vast metagenomic pool of alkaline proteases

SummaryIn the wide field of laundry and cleaning applications, there is an unbroken need for novel detergent proteases excelling in high stability and activity and a suitable substrate range. We demonstrated the large amount of highly diverse subtilase sequences present in metagenomic DNA by recovering 57 non‐redundant subtilase sequence tags with degenerate primers. Furthermore, an activity‐ as well as a sequence homology‐based screening of metagenomic DNA libraries was carried out, using alkaline soil and habitat enrichments as a source of DNA. In this way, 18 diverse full‐length protease genes were recovered, sharing only 37–85% of their amino acid residues with already known protease genes. Active clones were biochemically characterized and subjected to a laundry application assay, leading to the identification of three promising detergent proteases. According to sequence similarity, two proteases (HP53 and HP70) can be classified as subtilases, while the third enzyme (HP23) belongs to chymotrypsin‐like S1 serine proteases, a class of enzymes that has not yet been described for the use in laundry and cleaning applications.

Refinement of the Dermal Sensitisation Threshold (DST) approach using a larger dataset and incorporating mechanistic chemistry domains

An essential step in ensuring the toxicological safety of ingredients in consumer products is the evaluation of their skin sensitising potential. Where skin exposure is low, it is possible to conduct a risk assessment using the Dermal Sensitisation Threshold (DST), a process similar to that of the Threshold of Toxicological Concern. This paper describes work building on that previously published, whose aim was to produce a more robust tool for assessing the safety of consumer products. This consisted of expanding the Local Lymph Node Assay dataset used to define the original DST and classifying chemicals in the dataset according to their mechanistic chemistry domains. A DST of 900 μg/cm 2 was derived for chemicals classified as non-reactive and non-proreactive. This value was benchmarked against human potency data for 58 fragrance allergens and was lower than the measured No Expected Sensitisation Levels for those classified as non-reactive. Use of this DST will help to eliminate the need for animal testing of non-reactive and non-proreactive chemicals where skin exposure is sufficiently low. For chemicals where a Quantitative Risk Assessment based on the DST does not give an adequate margin of safety, and those classified as reactive, a case-by-case risk assessment will be required.

Geraniol — A review of a commercially important fragrance material

Geraniol is a commercially important terpene alcohol occurring in the essential oils of several aromatic plants. It is one of the most important molecules in the flavour and fragrance industries and is a common ingredient in consumer products produced by these industries. In addition to its pleasant odour, geraniol is known to exhibit insecticidal and repellent properties and used as a natural pest control agent exhibiting low toxicity. Geraniol has been suggested to represent a new class of chemoprevention agents for cancer. Other biological activities such as antimicrobial, anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and some vascular effects have also been investigated. The effect of geraniol as a penetration enhancer for transdermal drug delivery has also attracted the attention of researchers and formulation scientists. This review aims to coherently discuss some of the most important applications of geraniol and unites the results obtained from several studies reporting the biological properties of this molecule.

Higher blood concentrations of synthetic musks in women above fifty years than in younger women

Synthetic musk compounds are widely used as fragrance ingredients in many consumer products. Little is known about their accumulation in humans and especially in older persons. In this study, we determined concentrations of 11 synthetic musks in women above fifty years and compared the results with earlier results from samples of young females. Blood was taken from 53 women above 50 years of age, visiting outpatients of the Department of Angiology at the Hanusch-Krankenhaus in Vienna, Austria. The used analytical methods consist of an extraction and clean-up step and a chromatographic analysis by GC/MS. Tonalide-D3 was used as recovery standard in all samples. Hexachlorobenzene (13)C(6) was used as internal standard. Study participants also completed a questionnaire on the use of cosmetics, about nutrition and other life-style aspects. The two substances which could be detected in higher percentages of the blood plasma samples were galaxolide (89 percent, maximum concentration 6900 ng/L) and musk xylene (62 percent, maximum concentration 190 ng/L). Regression analysis revealed a significant association of galaxolide concentration with frequent use of perfumes, deodorants and shampoos. Frequent use of soaps and fabric softener was associated with higher plasma concentrations of musk xylene. Nutrition habits, skin type, body mass index or surface area were not related to plasma concentration of these musk compounds. From the study group investigated older persons showed higher plasma concentrations. These findings could be due to the higher use of lotions and crèmes on face and hands and a more frequent use of skin care products because older persons reported more frequently dry skin. In addition, physiological aging related changes might be responsible for higher dermal absorption of synthetic musks. These results indicate that more focus on aging tissues is needed.

Quantitative structure–activity relationship modelling of oral acute toxicity and cytotoxic activity of fragrance materials in rodents

Fragrance materials are used as ingredients in many consumer and personal care products. The wide and daily use of these substances, as well as their mainly uncontrolled discharge through domestic sewage, make fragrance materials both potential indoor and outdoor air pollutants which are also connected to possible toxic effects on humans (asthma, allergies, headaches). Unfortunately, little is known about the environmental fate and toxicity of these substances. However, the use of alternative, predictive approaches, such as quantitative structure–activity relationships (QSARs), can help in filling the data gap and in the characterization of the environmental and toxicological profile of these substances. In the proposed study, ordinary least squares regression-based QSAR models were developed for three toxicological endpoints: mouse oral LD50, inhibition of NADH-oxidase (EC50 NADH-Ox) and the effect on mitochondrial membrane potential (EC50 ΔΨm). Theoretical molecular descriptors were calculated by using DRAGON software, and the best QSAR models were developed according to the principles defined by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development.

Exposure based waiving: The application of the toxicological threshold of concern (TTC) to inhalation exposure for aerosol ingredients in consumer products

The inhalation toxicology studies available in the public domain have been reviewed to establish a database for inhalation toxicology and derive thresholds of toxicological concern (TTC) for effects in the respiratory tract and systemically for Cramer class 1 and 3 chemicals. These TTCs can be used as the basis for developing an exposure based waiving (EBW) approach to evaluating the potential for adverse effects from exposure to ingredients in aerosol products, used by consumers. The measurement of consumer exposure in simulated product use is key to the application of an exposure based waiving approach to evaluating potential consumer risk. The detailed exposure evaluation for aerosol ingredients with defined use scenarios, in conjunction with an evaluation of the potential structure activity relationship for toxicity and the TTCs for inhalation exposure could be used to waive undertaking inhalation toxicology studies under REACH. Not all classes of chemicals are suitable for such an approach, but for chemicals with a predictable low potential toxicity, and very low levels of exposure, this approach, could reduce the amount of inhalation toxicology studies required for the implementation of the European REACH legislation. Such an approach is consistent with the concept of developing ‘intelligent testing strategies’ for REACH.

Fragranced consumer products and undisclosed ingredients

Fragranced consumer products—such as air fresheners, laundry supplies, personal care products, and cleaners—are widely used in homes, businesses, institutions, and public places. While prevalent, these products can contain chemicals that are not disclosed to the public through product labels or material safety data sheets (MSDSs). What are some of these chemicals and what limits their disclosure? This article investigates these questions, and brings new pieces of evidence to the science, health, and policy puzzle. Results from a regulatory analysis, coupled with a chemical analysis of six best-selling products (three air fresheners and three laundry supplies), provide several findings. First, no law in the U.S. requires disclosure of all chemical ingredients in consumer products or in fragrances. Second, in these six products, nearly 100 volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were identified, but none of the VOCs were listed on any product label, and one was listed on one MSDS. Third, of these identified VOCs, ten are regulated as toxic or hazardous under federal laws, with three (acetaldehyde, chloromethane, and 1,4-dioxane) classified as Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPs). Results point to a need for improved understanding of product constituents and mechanisms between exposures and effects.

Diethanolamine Alters Proliferation and Choline Metabolism in Mouse Neural Precursor Cells

Diethanolamine (DEA) is a widely used ingredient in many consumer products and in a number of industrial applications. It has been previously reported that dermal administration of DEA to mice diminished hepatic stores of choline and altered brain development in the fetus. The aim of this study was to use mouse neural precursor cells in vitro to assess the mechanism underlying the effects of DEA. Cells exposed to DEA treatment (3mM) proliferated less (by 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine incorporation) at 48 h (24% of control [CT]), and had increased apoptosis at 72 h (308% of CT). Uptake of choline into cells was reduced by DEA treatment (to 52% of CT), resulting in diminished intracellular concentrations of choline and phosphocholine (55 and 12% of CT, respectively). When choline concentration in the growth medium was increased threefold (to 210 microM), the effects of DEA exposure on cell proliferation and apoptosis were prevented, however, intracellular phosphocholine concentrations remained low. In choline kinase assays, we observed that DEA can be phosphorylated to phospho-DEA at the expense of choline. Thus, the effects of DEA are likely mediated by inhibition of choline transport into neural precursor cells and by altered metabolism of choline. Our study suggests that prenatal exposure to DEA may have a detrimental effect on brain development.