Publications : 2024

Covell LT, Donnell MT, Keeton KA, Madl AK. Human health risk assessment of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in facial cosmetics. Poster presentation P342 at Society of Toxicology 63rd Annual Meeting, Salt Lake City, UT, March 2024. In: The Toxicologist 198(Late-Breaking S1):233–234, Abstract 5240.

Abstract

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Background and Purpose: Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a structurally diverse class of >12,000 compounds that have been used in various consumer products for their unique physicochemical properties, such as high surface activity, thermal stability, and duality of hydrophilicity and hydrophobicity. PFAS have been used as an ingredient in cosmetic products, such as foundation, moisturizer, eyeshadow, and powder, to condition and smooth the skin, make the skin appear shiny, or to affect product consistency and texture. PFAS may also be present as degradation byproducts or impurities from the production of PFAS precursors used in cosmetic products. There has been growing concerns about PFAS in cosmetic products, because well-studied perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) have been associated with various adverse health effects (including developmental, immunological, cardiovascular, and carcinogenic effects). Under the Modernization of Cosmetic Regulation Act (MoCRA), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is required to assess the use and safety of PFAS in cosmetic products by December 2025. However, to date, potential health risks from PFAS exposures associated with the application of facial cosmetic products have not been assessed. Therefore, the aim of this analysis was to quantify dermal and inhalation exposures and potential health risks from daily use of facial cream, foundation, and powdered cosmetics containing PFAS. Methods: A comprehensive evaluation of available chemical characterization data was performed to identify the specific compound(s) and concentrations of PFAS measured in facial cosmetic products. Additionally, available chronic non-cancer health guidelines values (HGVs) for different PFAS were identified from various U.S. federal and state and international agencies or organizations. Using the identified chemical characterization data, dermal and inhalation exposures were quantified. Factors for dermal bioavailability, product mass, and application surface area were utilized to estimate the dermal dose of PFAS from daily application of cream, foundation, and powdered facial cosmetic products. Releasability of airborne particulate matter from powdered facial cosmetics and application duration were used to estimate airborne exposures to PFAS from daily application of powdered facial cosmetic products. Estimated daily dermal and inhalation PFAS doses were compared to compound specific HGVs to calculate a hazard quotient (HQ) for chronic non-cancer health risks. Results: Overall, limited chemical analytical data were available for PFAS in cosmetic products. Measurable concentrations were reported in the literature for only perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA), perfluoropentanoic acid (PFPeA), perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA), perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA), PFOA, perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA), perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUnDA), perfluorododecanoic acid (PFDoDA), perfluorotridecanoic acid (PFTrDA), 6:2 fluorotelomer sulfonate (6:2FTS), and 2H,2Hperfluorodecanoic acid (8:2FTA) in different foundation and/or powdered cosmetic products. Compound-specific HGVs have been derived for four of these compounds (PFBA, PFHxA, PFOA, and PFNA). Dermal bioavailability of PFOA has reportedly ranged from 50 to 70% in mouse and human explant in vitro models and 2% in a human clinical study. Accounting for the range of bioavailability factors to estimate dermal PFAS dose and comparing to available compound specific HGVs, all powdered cosmetics demonstrated HQs <1 and nearly all foundation products had HQs <1 with a 2% bioavailability factor. When a bioavailability factor of 70% was assumed, PFHxA, PFOA, and PFNA resulted in HQs >1 for some but not all foundation cosmetics. An inhalation HGV was only available for PFHxA. Estimated inhalation exposures to PFHxA from the use of all tested powdered cosmetics were below the chronic non-cancer HGV. Conclusions: This quantitative exposure and risk assessment demonstrated that there was not an increased risk of chronic non-cancer effects from PFBA, PFHxA, PFOA, or PFNA in most facial foundation and all powdered tested cosmetic products. There is a need for research on other PFAS found in facial cosmetic products to fully evaluate the health impact of these substances to consumers. This assessment also identified areas of focus for future research, including 1) expanded analytical methods for PFAS, 2) additional cosmetic products testing, 3) human factor information on cosmetic use patterns, 4) derivation of HGVs for individual (and perhaps mixture) PFAS for which no HGVs currently exist, 5) further characterization of dermal bioavailability of different PFAS, 6) particulate emission rates from the use of different types of powdered cosmetic products, and 7) methods to assess PFAS mixture exposures and health risks. Continued research will improve our understanding of potential PFAS exposures and health risks from different consumer products