2010 Volume 56 Issue 1 Pages 116-122
We measured the amount of formaldehyde (FA) in cosmetics containing FA-donor preservatives [imidazolidinyl urea (IU), dimethyloldimethyl hydantoin (DM), diazolidinyl urea (DU), quaternium-15 (QU), and bronopol (BP)] and explored the factors affecting FA release. FA was detected in all the 89 cosmetic products tested. FA concentrations of cosmetics declared to contain DM and DU were significantly higher than those of cosmetics declared to contain IU and BP. Detected FA concentration of samples produced in the U.S.A. was significantly higher than that of samples produced in European countries. A weak proportional relationship was observed between the pH value and the released FA concentration of the cosmetic products containing DM and DU. There were no significant differences in the FA concentrations of various categories of cosmetics (lotion, gel, conditioner, shampoo, body wash, and others). Cosmetics containing a blend of amines, amides, or hydrolyzed proteins together with FA-donor preservatives had a lower FA concentration than the others.
