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. 2019 Mar:84:114-121.
doi: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2019.01.005. Epub 2019 Jan 16.

Sanitary pads and diapers contain higher phthalate contents than those in common commercial plastic products

Chan Jin Park  1 , Radwa Barakat  2 , Alexander Ulanov  3 , Zhong Li  3 , Po-Ching Lin  1 , Karen Chiu  1 , Sherry Zhou  1 , Pablo Perez  1 , Jungyeon Lee  4 , Jodi Flaws  1 , CheMyong Jay Ko  5
Affiliations

Sanitary pads and diapers contain higher phthalate contents than those in common commercial plastic products

Chan Jin Park et al. Reprod Toxicol. 2019 Mar.

Abstract

Sanitary pads and diapers are made of synthetic plastic materials that can potentially be released while being used. This study measured the amounts of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) (methylene chloride, toluene, and xylene) and phthalates (DBP, DEHP, DEP, and BBP) contained in sanitary pads and diapers. In sanitary pads, 5,900- and 130-fold differences of VOC and phthalate concentrations were seen among the brands. In the diapers, 3- and 63-fold differences of VOC and phthalate concentrations were detected among the brands. VOC concentrations from the sanitary pads and diapers were similar to that of the residential air. However, phthalate concentrations of sanitary pads and diapers were significantly higher than those found in common commercial plastic products. As sanitary pads and diapers are in direct contact with external genitalia for an extended period, there is a probability that a considerable amount of VOCs or phthalates could be absorbed into the reproductive system.

Keywords: Diapers; Phthalates; Sanitary pads; VOCs.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of interest

The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Sample preparation for measurement of phthalates from sanitary pads.
Samples were collected from four locations (dotted boxes) on the sanitary pad.
Figure 2
Figure 2. Total ion chromatogram of VOCs and phthalates.
A, Standard GC/MS chromatogram showing the separation pattern of VOCs including methylene chloride, toluene, and xylene. B-E, Standard LC/MS/MS ion chromatogram obtained from DEP (B), DEHP (C), DBP (D), and BBP (E).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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