Laundry Products Research Articles

\u201cThis perfume makes me sick, but I like it.\u201d Representative survey on health effects associated with fragrances

BackgroundFragranced consumer products—such as cleaning supplies, laundry products, perfumes, and air fresheners—have been associated with adverse effects on personal health and with subsequent societal effects. This study investigates self-reported effects associated with exposures to fragranced consumer products in Germany. Using a nationally representative population-based sample (n = 1102), data were collected in March 2019 using an online survey of adults in Germany. Special questions allowed to differentiate the answers given by various vulnerable subgroups of the general population with the intention to better understand their specific situations.ResultsOne out of five persons (19.9%) indicates to be fragrance-sensitive. More than half of these persons (55.3%) report respiratory problems and more than a third of them (35.6%) declare mucosal problems. Three out of four autists report to be fragrance-sensitive. Half of the general population (55.6%) think of products with natural fragrance ingredients to be healthier than products with synthetic fragrance ingredients and do not know that this is a wrong assumption. Even more people who report adverse health effects have this wrong impression. People who describe negative health effects caused by fragrances indicate to be exposed by their own use to a similar or even higher extent (up to 98.6%) compared to the general population (96.9%). Slightly more men say that they read the references to the products to get information about the fragrance ingredients compared to women. Three quarters of the population use fragrances to feel more attractive, but still 7.6% report respiratory problems when exposed to fragrances.ConclusionsThe high number of individuals who report to experience health problems upon exposure to fragranced products needs to be taken serious and further actions are urgent. Present risk communication measures do not seem to be sufficient to induce appropriate risk reduction behavior in affected persons.

АРХИТЕКТУРНОЕ ТВОРЧЕСТВО ГОРОДСКОГО СОЮЗА ЖИЛИЩНОЙ КООПЕРАЦИИ НОВОСИБИРСКА В ГОДЫ ПЕРВОЙ ПЯТИЛЕТКИ

The purpose of the study is to identify the main typological, space-planning, constructive, stylistic and town-planning features of residential buildings designed by the Municipal union of Novosibirsk housing cooperatives in the years of the first five-year plan. Research objectives: 1) To substantiate the need for a transition to stone construction and the benefits of the development of quarterly residential buildings in Novosibirsk during the first five-year plan; 2) Determine the main types and types of housing, the development of which was engaged Gorshilsoyuz in the study period; 3) Analyze the most characteristic objects designed by Gorzhilsoyuz in the 1930s. The method of work is based on a comprehensive analysis of archival materials from the Novosibirsk State Archive (GANO) and funds of the Museum of the History of Architecture of Siberia named after S.N. Balandin (Novosibirsk), as well as literary sources and materials of periodicals. The novelty of the research lies in the fact that for the first time, based on an analysis of residential building projects created by the Gorzhilsoyuz, their architectural and typological features and compositional and stylistic features are identified and compared in detail. Founded in 1925, the Municipal union of Novosibirsk housing cooperatives (Gorzhilsoyuz) began its activities with the design of wooden residential buildings for housing cooperatives. In the years of the first five-year plan, this organization switched to the design of stone multi-apartment residential buildings based on socialist type housing principles. If in the previous period, most residential buildings had a unified space-planning solution, which did not include other functions besides housing, in 1928–1932 the city began to embody the original projects of new types of not only multi-family buildings, but also quarterly residential complexes, which included in their structure public housing and service facilities. The first example of a quarter residential development of the city was the “garden-quarter of a new type” of the housing cooperative “Pechatnik”. The design of residential buildings involved professionals Gorzhilsoyuz. The corner multisection apartment building had in the ground floor: shops, a dining room, a pharmacy, a kindergarten, a red corner; in the basement were: showers, bathrooms and laundry. Decorative belts and rizalits were the main architectural elements of the main facade. In 1929–1930 housing cooperatives “Medrabotnic” and “Khimik” built two corner multi-section residential buildings according to the projects of the Gorzhilsoyuz. Multi-apartment building “Medrabotnic” consists of four sections. Standard ordinary end sections had two apartments on the floor: three- and four-room apartments, each of which housed a kitchen, a bathroom, and a bathroom. A store was designed on the first floor of the rotary section, and on each floor above are two three-room apartments (without bathrooms) and one four-room (second to fourth floor) apartments. The residential building of the “Khimik” was the first five-story building in Novosibirsk and was conceived as a communal house. The house provided separate sleeping areas for: adults and children. However, due to the change in the ideological line of the government, the project was converted into an apartment building with shops on the ground floor. The facades of the house spatially overlap with the facades of the building “Medrabotnic”. The residential four-storey building of the housing cooperative “Rabochaya piatiletka”, built in 1930 according to the drawings of the Gorzhilsoyuz, was designed as a communal house. The project was supposed to accommodate people in separate age groups. On the ground floor there was a dining room with a kitchen, administrative rooms and bedrooms for the elderly. On the second floor there were the bedrooms of adults and children of eight years of age. The third and fourth floors were occupied by bedrooms of adults and children up to 16 years. Half of the fourth floor had social functions. The basement was allocated for laundry, boiler room and pantry products. However, in connection with the Decree of the Central Committee of the CPSU (b) “On work on the restructuring of life” (dated May 16, 1930), the dormitory was re-planned, and later became an administrative building.

Volatile chemical emissions from 134 common consumer products

Emissions from everyday consumer products have been associated with adverse effects on air quality and health. This study investigates volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted from 134 common consumer products, both fragranced and fragrance-free, including those with claims of green. Product types include personal care products, air fresheners, cleaning supplies, laundry products, and sunscreens. Using GC/MS headspace analysis, this study found 1538 VOC occurrences (individual ingredients), representing 338 VOC identities (different compounds), emitted from the 134 consumer products. Among the 1538 VOCs, 517 VOCs are classified as potentially hazardous. The most common VOC emitted from the 104 fragranced products was limonene, which was absent in fragrance-free versions. Comparing the green and regular fragranced products, no significant difference was found between the most prevalent potentially hazardous VOCs. Among all volatile ingredients emitted, fewer than 4% were listed on product labels. This study provides extensive findings on volatile emissions from consumer products, which can improve awareness of potential exposures and effects on air quality and health.

A rapid approach to optimize the design of fragrances for fabric care products

AbstractThe design of fragrances for laundry products which deliver a prolonged odor intensity at key consumer touch points is an ongoing challenge in the fragrance industry. Current fragrance development practices are based on the combination of perfumery expertise (eg creation of classic and modern odor themes such as Chypre or Fougère) with technical know‐how (eg chemical–physical properties of fragrance ingredients). However, due to the complexity of such multi‐component mixtures this process still requires a significant number of trial and error cycles throughout the fragrance development process to achieve the desired odor intensity and character requirements. To improve the efficiency of the fragrance development process, we have combined simple, high throughput analytical methods with psychophysical models, to predict the intensity and character of fragrances at three key consumer touch points for laundry products. The predicted results have shown a good agreement with experimental ones, making this approach useful in the early research phase for defining the structure/backbone of highly performing fragrance themes.

Fragranced consumer products and effects on asthmatics: an international population-based study

Asthma is an international concern, with risks linked to air pollutants. Fragranced consumer products, such as air fresheners and cleaning supplies, have been associated with health problems such as asthma attacks and breathing difficulties. This study investigates the health and societal effects of fragranced products on asthmatics in four countries: United States, Australia, United Kingdom, and Sweden. Nationally representative population surveys (n = 1137; 1098; 1100; 1100) found that, across the four countries, 26.0% of adults (n = 1151) are asthmatic, reporting medically diagnosed asthma (15.8%), an asthma-like condition (11.1%), or both. Among these asthmatics, 57.8% report adverse health effects, including asthma attacks (25.0%), respiratory problems (37.7%), and migraine headaches (22.6%), from exposure to fragranced products. In particular, 36.7% of asthmatics report health problems from air fresheners or deodorizers, 18.1% from the scent of laundry products coming from a dryer vent, 32.9% from being in a room cleaned with scented products, 38.7% from being near someone wearing a fragranced product, and 37.5% from other types of fragranced products. For 24.1% of asthmatics, health problems from fragranced products are potentially disabling. Further, 20.6% of asthmatics have lost workdays or lost a job, in the past year, due to fragranced product exposure in the workplace. Fragrance-free environments received widespread support. More than twice as many individuals, both asthmatics as well as non-asthmatics, would prefer that workplaces, health care facilities and professionals, airplanes, and hotels were fragrance-free rather than fragranced. This study provides evidence that asthmatics can be profoundly, adversely, and disproportionately affected by exposure to fragranced consumer products. Moreover, the study points to a relatively straightforward and cost-effective approach to reduce risks; namely, to reduce exposure to fragranced products.

Kao launches innovative laundry product based on alternative detergent base

Kao launches innovative laundry product based on alternative detergent base

Emissions from dryer vents during use of fragranced and fragrance-free laundry products

Fragranced laundry products emit a range of volatile organic compounds, including hazardous air pollutants. Exposure to fragranced emissions from laundry products has been associated with adverse health effects such as asthma attacks and migraine headaches. Little is known about volatile emissions from clothes dryer vents and the effectiveness of strategies to reduce concentrations and risks. This study investigates volatile emissions from six residential dryer vents, with a focus on d-limonene. It analyses and compares concentrations of d-limonene during use of fragranced and fragrance-free laundry products, as well as changes in switching from fragranced to fragrance-free products. In households using fragranced laundry detergent, the highest concentration of d-limonene from a dryer vent was 118 μg/m3 (mean 33.34 μg/m3). By contrast, in households using only fragrance-free detergent, the highest concentration of d-limonene from a dryer vent was 0.26 μg/m3 (mean 0.25 μg/m3). After households using fragranced detergent switched to using fragrance-free detergent, the concentrations of d-limonene in dryer vent emissions were reduced by up to 99.7% (mean 79.1%). This simple strategy of switching to fragrance-free products significantly and almost completely eliminated d-limonene emissions. Results from this study demonstrate that changing from fragranced to fragrance-free products can be a straightforward and effective approach to reduce ambient air pollution and potential health risks.

Determination of fragrance allergens and their dermal sensitization quantitative risk assessment (QRA) in 107 spray perfumes

ABSTRACTCutaneous allergy occurs primarily as a result of using cosmetic, household, and laundry products available on the market that contain fragrances. The aim of this study was to develop a rapid and specific high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection (HPLC-UV) method for quantification of 25 fragrance allergens (amyl cinnamyl alcohol, benzyl alcohol, benzyl benzoate, benzyl cinnamate, benzyl salicylate, citronellol, cinnamyl alcohol, citral, coumarin, eugenol, farnesol, geraniol, hydroxycitronellal, HICC (4-(4-hydroxy-4-methylpentyl)-3-cyclohexene-1-carboaldehyde), isoeugenol, isoeugenyl acetate, lilial (butyl phenyl methyl propional), limonene, linalool, methyl 2-octynoate, etc.). In addition, an exposure-based quantitative risk assessment (QRA) was performed to determine safe levels of fragrance ingredients in 107 perfumes. In 76 women’s and 31 men’s fragrances, 25 allergens were identified at concentrations ranging from undetectable (N.D.) to 8,997.68 mg/kg, and from N.D. to 17,352.34 mg/kg, respectively. An exposure-based sensitization QRA revealed that the ratios of acceptable exposure level (AEL) to consumer exposure level (CEL) of fragrance ingredients were greater than 1, suggesting an absence of skin sensitizing potential. However, the maximum level used in the exposure scenario was determined by the product purpose and application type, and AEL/CEL ratios of lilial, HICC, citral, isoeugenol, and methyl 2-octynoate analyzed in women’s perfume were 0.53, 0.67 0.19, 0.13, and 0.57, respectively. As the ratios of AEL:CEL of these fragrance ingredients were below 1, the utilization of these potential skin sensitizers is not considered safe. Our findings indicate that the sensitization risk of allergens with AEL:CEL ratios below 1 detected in fragrances needs to be reduced to the appropriate human safety level for risk management.

Fragranced consumer products: effects on autistic adults in the United States, Australia, and United Kingdom

Fragranced consumer products, such as cleaning supplies, air fresheners, and personal care products, can have adverse effects on both air quality and health. This study investigates the effects of fragranced products on autistic individuals ages 18–65 in the United States, Australia, and United Kingdom. Nationally representative population surveys (n = 1137; 1098; 1100) found that, across the three countries, 4.3% of adults (n = 142) report medically diagnosed autism (2.3%), an autism spectrum disorder (2.4%), or both. Of these autistic adults, 83.7% report adverse health effects from fragranced products, including migraine headaches (42.9%), neurological problems (34.3%), respiratory problems (44.7%), and asthma attacks (35.9%). In particular, 62.9% of autistic adults report health problems from air fresheners or deodorizers, 57.5% from the scent of laundry products coming from a dryer vent, 65.9% from being in a room cleaned with scented products, and 60.5% from being near someone wearing a fragranced product. Health problems can be severe, with 74.1% of these effects considered potentially disabling under legislation in each country. Further, 59.4% of autistic adults have lost workdays or lost a job, in the past year, due to fragranced product exposure in the workplace. More than twice as many autistic as well as non-autistic individuals would prefer that workplaces, health care facilities, and health care professionals were fragrance-free rather than fragranced. Results show that vulnerable individuals, such as those with autism or autism spectrum disorders, can be profoundly, adversely, and disproportionately affected by exposure to fragranced consumer products.

Delivering value in the laundry room

A walk down the supermarket’s or big-box store’s laundry products aisle reveals several liquid detergents touting “bleach alternative.” One of them, Tide Plus Bleach Alternative HE Liquid, was in 2017 deemed the best U.S. laundry detergent at getting out stains (but second overall) by Wirecutter, a product review website owned by the New York Times Co. But what does bleach alternative mean? Procter & Gamble, the maker of Tide, doesn’t exactly say, though it does point to enzymes that whiten and brighten clothes. The detergent also includes an optical brightener that makes clothes appear brighter by absorbing ultraviolet light and reemitting it in the blue region. What is clear is that Tide Plus Bleach Alternative HE Liquid does not contain bleach. P&G and other detergent makers tend not to use actual bleaches because they are temperamental and reactive. Consumer bleach comes in two main varieties, and both are problematic. Halogen-based

Interaction of a digestive protease, Candida rugosa lipase, with three surfactants investigated by spectroscopy, molecular docking and enzyme activity assay

The extensive use of surfactants in food, laundry products and agriculture has caused concern about their biosafety. However, few studies have been done on their potential effect on the lipase which has always been used with surfactants in food and laundry industry. Herein, we investigated the interaction of three surfactants (sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate (SDBS), sodium lauryl sulfonate (SLS)) with Candida rugosa lipase (CRL), which is a popular biocatalyst used regularly with surfactants. The effect of the three surfactants on the conformation and activity of CRL was evaluated by using multiple spectral methods, enzyme activity assay and molecular docking modeling. The results demonstrated that CRL interacted with SDS, SDBS and SLS primarily through hydrophobic forces, H-bonding and electrostatic forces, respectively. The binding constants (KA) of SDBS with CRL varied with temperature: 1.99×103mol/L at 298K and 4.13×103mol/L at 318K. SDS and SDBS affected the secondary structure and skeleton of CRL, which changed the polarity of CRL and enhanced its activity. SLS also changed the secondary structure and activity of CRL moderately, but had little effect on its polarity and chromophore microenvironment. Accordingly, all three surfactants exhibited effect to CRL on the molecular level calling for more attention to pay on their biosafety.The work demonstrates that SDS, SDBS and SLS could cause negative effects to CRL from different angles and therefore are not bio-friendly detergents.

Fragranced consumer products: effects on asthmatics

Fragranced consumer products, such as cleaning supplies, air fresheners, and personal care products, can emit a range of air pollutants and trigger adverse health effects. This study investigates the prevalence and types of effects of fragranced products on asthmatics in the American population. Using a nationally representative sample (n = 1137), data were collected with an on-line survey of adults in the USA, of which 26.8% responded as being medically diagnosed with asthma or an asthma-like condition. Results indicate that 64.3% of asthmatics report one or more types of adverse health effects from fragranced products, including respiratory problems (43.3%), migraine headaches (28.2%), and asthma attacks (27.9%). Overall, asthmatics were more likely to experience adverse health effects from fragranced products than non-asthmatics (prevalence odds ratio [POR] 5.76; 95% confidence interval [CI] 4.34–7.64). In particular, 41.0% of asthmatics report health problems from air fresheners or deodorizers, 28.9% from scented laundry products coming from a dryer vent, 42.3% from being in a room cleaned with scented products, and 46.2% from being near someone wearing a fragranced product. Of these effects, 62.8% would be considered disabling under the definition of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Yet 99.3% of asthmatics are exposed to fragranced products at least once a week. Also, 36.7% cannot use a public restroom if it has an air freshener or deodorizer, and 39.7% would enter a business but then leave as quickly as possible due to air fresheners or some fragranced product. Further, 35.4% of asthmatics have lost workdays or a job, in the past year, due to fragranced product exposure in the workplace. More than twice as many asthmatics would prefer that workplaces, health care facilities and health care professionals, hotels, and airplanes were fragrance-free rather than fragranced. Results from this study point to relatively simple and cost-effective ways to reduce exposure to air pollutants and health risks for asthmatics by reducing their exposure to fragranced products.

Potential application of Bacillus subtilis SPB1 biosurfactants in laundry detergent formulations: Compatibility study with detergent ingredients and washing performance.

Surfactants play a very important role in laundry and household cleaning products ingredients. In this research, the application of lipopeptide biosurfactants, produced by Bacillus subtilis SPB1, in the formulation of a washing powder was investigated. The SPB1 biosurfactant was mixed with sodium tripolyphosphate as a builder and sodium sulfate as filler. The efficiency of the formulated detergent composition with different washing conditions to remove a stain from cotton fabric was examined. The results showed that the formulated detergent was effective in oil removal, with optimal washing conditions of pH, temperature, striate and time of washing system of 7, 65°C, 1000 RPM and 60 min, respectively. A comparative study of different detergent compositions (biosurfactant-based detergent, combined biosurfactant-commercial detergent, and a commercial detergent) for the removal of oil and tea stains, proved that the bio-scouring was more effective (>75%) in terms of the stain removal than the commercial powders (<60%). Moreover, the results demonstrated that the biosurfactant acts additively with a commercial detergent and enhances their performance from 33 to 45% in removing oil stain and from 57 to 64% in removing tea stain. As a conclusion, in addition to the low toxicity and the high biodegradability of the microbial biosurfactants, the results of this study have shown that the future use of this lipopeptide biosurfactant as laundry detergent additive is highly promising.

Dermal safety assessment of Arm & Hammer laundry products formulated for sensitive skin

Context: The prevalence of sensitive skin among the general population in industrialized countries is reported to be over 50%. Sensitive skin subjects often report significant reactions to contact with cosmetics, soaps and other consumer products.Objective: This paper describes the overall skin compatibility and mildness program for a newly developed, lightly fragranced, colorant free laundry product (i.e. Arm & Hammer™ Sensitive Skin plus Skin-Friendly Fresh Scent), specially formulated for individuals with sensitive skin. The skin mildness of the product was compared to Arm & Hammer™ Free & Clear liquid laundry detergent with no fragrance or colorant, and an established history of safe use by sensitive skin consumers.Materials and methods: The test material was a liquid laundry product with a light scent formulated for sensitive skin consumers (Arm & Hammer™ Sensitive Skin plus Skin-Friendly Fresh Scent). The product was compared to commercially marketed products for sensitive skin with a history of skin safety in the marketplace, including: a very similar product formulation (Arm & Hammer™ Free & Clear with no fragrance), and several selected competitors’ products. Studies were conducted among individuals with self-assessed sensitive skin (based on a questionnaire) using standard protocols for the Human Repeat Insult Patch Test (HRIPT), 10-Day Cumulative Irritation, the Wrist Band Wear test, and the Safety In-Use testing. Responses in all protocols were evaluated by visual scoring of potential dermatologic reactions, and recording any sensory effects at the time of the examination. In addition, sensory effects collected from panelists’ daily diaries were also evaluated.Results: The HRIPT confirmed that neither the fragrance alone, nor the product formulation with fragrance, induced contact sensitization in sensitive skin subjects. The 10-Day cumulative irritation study conducted using sensitive skin subjects showed highly favorable skin compatibility, and the test product was comparable to the control product (Arm & Hammer Free & Clear) and other nonirritant controls. In the Wrist Band Wear test, exposure to laundered fabrics under exaggerated conditions gave similar results for the test and control products, with no objective signs of skin irritation, and no self-reported persistent adverse sensory effects. Very mild, transient and isolated sensory effects were noted in daily diaries by a small proportion of subjects, and were similar for the test and control products. The Safety In-Use tests evaluated 4-week exposure to product and laundered fabrics under realistic use conditions. There were no clinically objective signs of skin irritation, and reports of transitory, mild sensory effects were minimal and similar for the test and controls.Discussion and conclusion: A comprehensive skin safety program on a lightly scented sensitive skin laundry formulation (i.e. Arm & Hammer™ Sensitive Skin plus Skin-Friendly Fresh Scent) conducted among panels of self-assessed sensitive skin subjects demonstrated that the presence of a light fragrance did not adversely impact skin compatibility in any of the testing protocols when the product was compared to a similar product with no fragrance. The lightly fragranced product demonstrated overall skin compatibility and mildness when tested in a self-assessed sensitive skin population, and compared favorably to currently marketed sensitive skin products.

Use-patterns of personal care and household cleaning products in Switzerland

Reliable consumer use data are needed to determine health risks posed by chemicals contained in household cleaning and personal care products. Essential information includes the amount of product applied, the frequency of use, and the site of application. To obtain such data, a survey was conducted in Switzerland to assess consumer usage patterns. The use-patterns of 12 household care products, 5 laundry products, and 22 personal care products were collected among the Swiss population (N = 759; ages 0–91) by postal questionnaire, providing for the first time in Europe comprehensive information regarding use of household cleaning and personal care products for the same study population. Apart from the investigation of use frequency, quantity, duration, and habits, also co-use analysis was performed separately for household and personal care products. Use-patterns are presented for both genders and all age groups, including children below the age of 12, who may be more vulnerable to adverse effects attributed to certain chemicals. Also, the currently missing use factors for cosmetic/baby wet wipes were assessed. Stratification of the data by gender, age and other socio-demographic factors, such as region affiliation, allowed us to identify differences between population sub-groups, emphasizing the need for region-specific exposure factors.

Effect of ethyleneoxide groups of anionic surfactants on lipase activity.

The use of enzymes in laundry and dish detergent products is growing. Such tendency implies dedicated studies to understand surfactant-enzyme interactions. The interactions between surfactants and enzymes and their impact on the catalytic efficiency represent a central problem and were here evaluated using circular dichroism, dynamic light scattering, and enzyme activity determinations. This work focuses on this key issue by evaluating the role of the ethyleneoxide (EO) groups of anionic surfactants on the structure and activity of a commercial lipase, and by focusing on the protein/surfactant interactions at a molecular level. The conformational changes and enzymatic activity of the protein were evaluated in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS also denoted as SLE0 S) and of sodium lauryl ether sulfate with two EO units (SLE2 S). The results strongly suggest that the presence of EO units in the surfactant polar headgroup determines the stability and the activity of the enzyme. While SDS promotes enzyme denaturation and consequent loss of activity, SLE2 S preserves the enzyme structure and activity. The data further highlights that the electrostatic interactions among the protein groups are changed by the presence of the adsorbed anionic surfactants being such absorption mainly driven by hydrophobic interactions. © 2016 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 32:1276-1282, 2016.

Group raises stink about a fragrance

An environmental group last week called on U.S. consumer product makers to halt use of a synthetic musk fragrance sold under the trade name Galaxolide. Women’s Voices for the Earth says published studies show 1,3,4,6,7,8-hexahydro-4,6,6,7,8,8-hexamethylcyclopenta-γ-2-benzopyran (HHCB), which is used in laundry products, air fresheners, personal care products, and perfumes, is increasingly found in the Great Lakes. The group pointed to an assessment it commissioned of HHCB that concluded the chemical is persistent, accumulates in the environment, and is toxic to aquatic life. The assessment was done with GreenScreen for Safer Chemicals, a proprietary tool used to examine a compound’s hazards and compare it against alternative substances. SC Johnson, a company the activists are targeting for using HHCB, has cried foul. The company says the chemical “is present at very low concentrations that are hundreds to thousands of times lower than levels deemed safe by worldwide regulatory agencies.” EPA last year

The cost of atopic dermatitis – more than meets the eye

In this issue of The Journal, Filanovsky et al report on a survey of 82 caretakers of children with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis (AD), describing the financial impact to families. Most clinicians recognize severe AD as a disease with significant morbidity, but may see less severe manifestations more as a simple nuisance. This report underscores that the emotional and financial burdens are substantial. The mean monthly cost was $28, annualized to over $3000. The relationship between monthly cost and emotional burden was more pronounced for patients receiving Medicaid, suggesting that out-of-pocket expenses become more impactful as they consume a greater proportion of discretionary income. The authors looked at both direct (medical copays, over-the-counter products) and indirect costs (eg, lost work, additional child care expenses). The costs of over-the-counter moisturizers, bath products, etc, was not trivial. We as clinicians would be wise to consider these findings when counseling families. Even simple interventions, such as suggesting a change in bath or laundry products, may be far more difficult than we imagine, and the cost may weigh more heavily on families than we realize. Article page 284▶ The Financial and Emotional Impact of Atopic Dermatitis on Children and Their FamiliesThe Journal of PediatricsVol. 169PreviewTo examine the personal financial impact of atopic dermatitis (AD) and attempt to correlate cost of AD with emotional impact. Full-Text PDF

Current topics on builders in laundry products

Current topics on builders in laundry products

Statistical and Optimization Techniques for Laundry Portfolio Optimization at Procter &amp; Gamble

The Procter &amp; Gamble (P&amp;G) fabric-care business is a multibillion dollar organization that oversees a global portfolio of products, including household brands such as Tide, Dash, and Gain. Production is impacted by a steady stream of reformulation modifications, imposed by new-product innovation and constantly changing material supply conditions. In this paper, we describe the creation and application of a novel analytical framework that has helped P&amp;G determine the ingredient levels and product and process architectures that enable the company to create some of the world’s best laundry products. Modeling cleaning performance and other key properties such as density required P&amp;G to develop innovative quantitative techniques based on visual statistical tools. It used advanced mathematical programming methods to address challenges that the manufacturing process imposed, product performance requirements, and physical constraints, which collectively result in a hard mixed-integer nonlinear (nonconvex) optimization problem. We describe how P&amp;G applied our framework in its North American market to identify a strategy that improves the performance of its laundry products, provides targeted consumer benefits, and enables cost savings in the order of millions of dollars.