US EPA

5932884 

Journal Article 

Feminine hygiene products-a neglected source of phthalate exposure in women 

Gao, CJ; Wang, F; Shen, HM; Kannan, K; Guo, Y 

2020 

1 

Environmental Science & Technology
ISSN: 0013-936X
EISSN: 1520-5851 

American Chemical Society 

WASHINGTON 

54 

2 

930-937 

English 

31859481 

10.1021/acs.est.9b03927 

WOS:000509419700030 

https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85078394501&doi=10.1021%2facs.est.9b03927&partnerID=40&md5=536f5bc797814623852beae4a89d31f0
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Phthalates have been associated with reproductive toxicity and precocious puberty in females, but the occurrence of these toxicants in feminine hygiene products is rarely reported. In this study, eight phthalates were determined in 120 feminine hygiene products (56 feminine care products and 64 sanitary napkins) collected from China. Phthalates were found in 86% and 98% of feminine care products and sanitary napkins, respectively, with the total concentrations varying between not detectable and 813 μg/g (median: 0.26 μg/g) and 0.25 and 8.76 μg/g (1.43 μg/g), respectively. Diethyl phthalate, dibutyl phthalate, and bis(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate were the major compounds, accounting for >60% of the total concentrations. The plastic materials used on the top and bottom layers and the hot melt adhesive used during the manufacturing process are the potential sources of phthalates in sanitary napkins. The range of daily exposure doses of phthalates in women from the use of feminine care products and sanitary napkins was <0.001-0.156 μg/kg-bw/day and <0.001-0.731 μg/kg-bw/day, respectively. Sanitary napkins contributed to 8.2% of the total exposure, and the levels of exposure to several phthalates from sanitary napkins were much higher than those reported from indoor dust ingestion but were lower than those of dietary intakes. Our study confirmed a new source of women's exposure to phthalates, sanitary napkins. 

Hot melt adhesives; Di-butyl phthalate; Feminine care products; Feminine hygiene products; Manufacturing process; Phthalate exposures; Plastic materials; Precocious puberties; Reproductive toxicities; Esters; adhesive agent; di iso butyl phthalate; dicyclohexyl phthalate; phthalic acid; phthalic acid bis(2 ethylhexyl) ester; phthalic acid dibutyl ester; phthalic acid diethyl ester; unclassified drug; phthalic acid; phthalic acid derivative; phthalic acid dibutyl ester; concentration (composition); eolian deposit; food intake; hygiene; indoor air; phthalate; pollution exposure; womens health; Article; China; concentration (parameter); dietary intake; dust exposure; exposure; female; hot melt extrusion; human; limit of quantitation; physical chemistry; reproductive toxicity; skin absorption; dust; environmental exposure; feminine hygiene product; China; China; Dibutyl Phthalate; Dust; Environmental Exposure; Female; Feminine Hygiene Products; Humans; Phthalic Acids