Analysis of 19 preservatives in Polyvinyl Alcohol Cooling Towels Used in Japan by High Performance Liquid Chromatography with Photo Diode Array Detector

Abstract

The cases of contact dermatitis due to using polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) towel containing isothiazolinone preservatives have been reported in Japan and we had investigated the concentrations of isothiazolinones and the removal of these preservatives from PVA towels by washing before initial use in the previous study conducted from 2011 to 2012. However, the clinical information regarding contact dermatitis due to using PVA cooling towels containing other preservatives was provided from the supplier of PVA towel in the summer of 2013. Thus, we analyzed 19 preservatives in 21 PVA towels by high performance liquid chromatography with photo diode array detector in this study. A good separation of these preservatives was observed using InertSustain ® Phenyl column and 0.1 % formic acid solution as the mobile phase. 2-Methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one and 5-chloro-2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one were detected in 16 samples, including the sample which was sold in a dry condition; the concentrations of these substances ranged from 7.9-84 μg/g-wet and 9.5-173 μg/g-wet, respectively (2.9 μg/g-dry and 9.3 μg/g-dry, respectively). 2-n-Octyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one was detected in one sample (484 μg/g-wet). 2-Bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol (BP) was detected in 15 samples, including the sample which was sold in a dry condition; its concentration ranged from 68-2303 μg/g-wet (160 μg/g-dry). 2-Phenoxyethanol (PE) and benzoic acid (BA) were detected in 3 and 2 samples, and their concentrations ranged from 99-3171 μg/g-wet and 1896-23043 μg/g-wet. Other preservatives were not detected. Although isothiazolinone preservatives were detected in 17 samples, the product notes of 10 products, including the product with clinical information, did not describe about the use of isothiazolinone preservatives. Since PVA cooling towels in contact with human skin for a long time, the PVA cooling towels should be used with caution, especially on patients who are already sensitive to isothiazolinone preservatives. Furthermore, we evaluated the effectiveness of the washing process on the removal of BP, PE, and BA from the PVA towels before their initial use. The results of this laboratory-simulated washing procedure suggest that contact dermatitis is likely not related to the presence of BP, PE, and BA in washed PVA towels.

Survey of Isothiazolinones and Other Preservatives in Household Wet Tissue Products in Japan

“…However, it is also possible that MI and CMI were contaminated during manufacturing because several types of other preservatives were detected in the same sample. Although BIT was not detected in the gel-products used for cooling, PVA towels [7][8][9] , and adhesives for wall-paper 10) , it was detected in the wet tissue sample (No.15) in this study. For this product, the use of "organic compound contained nitrogen and sulfur" was indicated on the product label; this compound may correspond to BIT.…”

“…The concentrations of the target compounds in the wet tissue samples are listed in Table 4. most of the wet tissue samples were lower than those in PVA towels 8,9) .…”

“…As a result, a voluntary recall of gel-products was issued by the supplier 5) and information about the use of PVA cooling towel was provided by the National Consumer Affair Center of Japan 4) . Therefore, we have studied the concentration levels of several isothiazolinone preservatives in gel-products 6) and PVA cooling towels 7,8) .…”

“…It is necessar y to grasp the actual concentration levels of isothiazolinone preservatives in these products. However, only a few studies have been conducted on isothiazolinone preservatives in household products, such as our previous studies on cooling products [6][7][8] and household non-formalin adhesives for wallpaper 10) in Japan. Thus, to prevent the occurrence of allergic contact dermatitis, a survey of isothiazolinone preservatives in household products to which consumers can be exposed is necessary.…”

Development and validation of an analytical method for determination of bronopol and kathon preservative in milk

“…Bronopol is single compound therefore one peak was observed and Kathon is a combination of two active components 2-methyl-4isothiazolin-3-one (MI) and 5-chloro-2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one (CMI) in 1:3 ratio, therefore, two peaks were obtained. In literature (Medley et al 2014;Kawakami et al 2015; Baranowska and Wojciechowska 2013) peaks of MI and CMI were also reported in HPLC chromatogram of kathon. In standardized protocol, the retention time of bronopol, kathon (MI) and kathon (CMI) was 4.52 min, 3.98 min and 6.68 min respectively.…”