국내 판매중인 여성청결제의 사용실태 및 함유 보존제 분석

Abstract

Objectives: Preservatives, suspected to be endocrine disrupting chemicals, are widely used in feminine hygiene products for the prevention of deterioration. Information regarding the usage patterns of feminine hygiene products and the concentrations of preservatives in these products is limited. The present study was conducted to investigate the use of feminine cleansers among Korean women and quantify the concentration of preservatives in feminine cleansers. Methods: Approximately 500 women were recruited from the city of Busan in August 2017 and a questionnaire survey was conducted on the use of feminine cleansers. Several major feminine hygiene products (n=69) were identified and selected for analysis of 22 preservatives. Following appropriate preparation, the products were analyzed by HPLC/DAD. Results: Over 70% of the participating women used at least one feminine cleanser. Marital status and parity were associated with the frequency of use. Liquid was most frequently used form of feminine cleanser (66.6%). The greatest proportion of subjects answered that they use it ‘one to two times per week’ (36.5%). Among the 69 feminine cleansers, benzoic acid, sorbic acid, phenoxyethanol, and methyl paraben were detected at 144-4,428 μg/g, 195-1,470 μg/g, 269-4,237 μg/g, and 625-4,901 μg/g, respectively. BA was the most frequently detected (46.4%). Conclusions: In the present study, the characteristics of feminine cleanser use among Korean women were investigated. Based on an analysis of preservatives in the feminine hygiene products, one product was determined to exceed the maximum authorized concentration of MeP (0.4%). Our results will help refine exposure and risk assessment for toxic chemicals in feminine cleansers.