The Urgent Need for Advanced Testing of PAH Migration from Consumer Goods and PPE to Human Skin
Recent studies on Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs), carcinogenic compounds commonly found in materials like plastics and rubber, have raised significant health concerns. PAHs can migrate from consumer goods and personal protective equipment (PPE) into the skin, leading to toxic exposure.
This issue was found to be especially concerning for firefighters, who face toxicity from potentially high levels of PAH absorption due to the additional impact of adverse environmental conditions. Consumers using products such as sportswear, toys, and wearables face similar risks. To address these concerns, there is a growing focus on developing more accurate in-vitro testing methods that simulate real-world chemical and physical conditions to better understand how PAHs migrate and are absorbed by the skin.
Key Findings from Recent Research
- PAH Migration in Firefighter PPE: Firefighters face an elevated risk of PAH exposure due to the extreme conditions of their work environment, including intense heat, physical exertion and sweat production. The study Percutaneous Absorption of Fireground Contaminants: Naphthalene, Phenanthrene, and Benzo[a]pyrene in Porcine Skin in an Artificial Sweat Vehicle” (Toxics, 2024) highlights how contaminants from fireground materials, such as PAHs, can migrate through firefighter PPE into the skin. Traditional testing methods often fail to replicate the real-world combination of heat, sweat, and friction that firefighters endure. To address this, the study used commercially available artificial sweat to simulate the conditions firefighters face. This more accurate testing method helps clarify how PAHs travel through protective clothing and reach the skin, providing insights into the toxicological risks firefighters encounter during high-stress situations.
- PAH Migration from Consumer Goods: Similar risks apply to consumer products, particularly those made from rubber and plastic, such as toys, sportswear, and other wearables. The study Skin Surface Film Liquid as New Migration Medium for the Determination of PAHs Released from Rubber-Containing Consumer Goods” (Polycyclic Aromatic Compounds, 2020) explores how PAHs can leach from these materials when in prolonged contact with the skin. Children’s toys and sportswear are examples of products that can be a source of PAH exposure.
This research used a skin surface film liquid (SSFL) to replicate the film that naturally forms on the skin, which helps simulate the conditions under which PAHs migrate. Like the firefighter PPE study, this approach underscores the importance of realistic testing environments to understand how chemicals migrate under conditions including heat, sweat, and friction.
Human skin’s outermost layer, the stratum corneum, is covered by a hydro-lipidic film comprising sweat and sebum, which plays a key role in interacting with lipophilic substances. Recognizing this, researchers developed Skin Surface Film Liquid (SSFL), a sophisticated migration simulant that mimics both sweat and sebum, providing a more accurate medium for testing PAH release.
The Role of Artificial Sweat in Testing:
The development of artificial sweat has become a key advance in testing PAH migration. Traditional testing methods often use simple water-based solutions, which fail to replicate the real-life conditions under which materials come into contact with human skin. Artificial sweat is designed to mimic the pH, amino acids, ion content, and moisture levels of human perspiration, providing a more accurate model of how chemicals such as PAHs migrate from materials into the skin.
Advantages of Using Artificial Sweat Testing:
- Accurate Simulation: Artificial sweat replicates how dissolution of chemicals leached from products under controlled temperatures more accurately mimic conditions that influence how PAHs move from products into the skin.
- Enhanced Safety Standards: Accurate testing methods allow manufacturers to establish quality thresholds for products such as PPE, sportswear, and toys. By ensuring that PAH content and migration is kept within safe limits, manufacturers can help reduce the risk of harmful exposure.
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Regulatory Influence: Robust testing methodologies can guide regulators in developing stricter safety standards. The growing scrutiny on harmful chemicals in consumer products makes it essential for data-driven policies that can limit or ban toxic substances including PAHs from widespread use.
- Health Protection: For both first-responders and consumers, understanding PAH migration from materials into the skin is critical for minimizing long-term health risks, such as cancer and organ damage. Studies show that chronic exposure to PAHs can lead to severe health consequences, particularly for vulnerable groups.
Implications for Consumer Goods:(Sportswear, Other Wearables and Toys):
Although not added deliberately to consumer products, PAHs can still be present as impurities. The migration of PAHs from these goods follow similar patterns. These products are frequently made from rubber, plastic, or other synthetic materials, which may leach PAHs during prolonged skin contact. For instance, athletes who sweat during physical activities are at risk of absorbing PAHs from their sportswear, while children’s toys and wearables worn for extended periods can also contribute to exposure.
Other wearable technology, such as fitness trackers and smartwatches, is another area of concern. Devices made from rubber or silicone that are worn close to the skin during exercise may leach harmful chemicals, especially if they come into prolonged contact with perspiration.
Conclusion: Moving Towards Safer, Better-Regulated Products
Recent research underscores the critical need for testing methods that closely replicate real-world conditions to accurately evaluate the migration of PAHs from materials into the skin. This is essential for improving consumer safety standards.
As the understanding of PAH migration evolves, Pickering Laboratories continue to lead the development of more advanced formulations that allow more realistic testing protocols to be adopted. These advances in testing and regulation will help ensure the long-term safety of both first responders and consumers, reducing the risk of toxic exposure from everyday products including PPE.
ESSLAB: Your Partner in Advanced PAH Migration Testing
As Pickering Laboratories’ appointed distribution partner, ESSLAB plays a pivotal role in equipping laboratories with cutting-edge tools to enhance regulatory compliance and consumer safety.
How ESSLAB Supports Laboratories:
- Advanced Simulants: By supplying artificial sweat and SSFL formulations, enabling labs to conduct accurate migration studies.
- Certified Reference Materials (CRMs): Offering an extensive CRM portfolio for precise PAH quantification, supporting quality control and regulatory submissions.
- Expert Guidance: Providing consultation services to help laboratories integrate advanced testing methods seamlessly into their workflows.
Accurate PAH migration testing is essential in improving consumer safety and ensuring compliance with evolving UK and European regulations. Laboratories continue to adopt standardised test methods to generate reliable data that reflect real-world risks.
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References
Dissolution of materials in artificial skin surface film liquids
Migration of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) from plastic and rubber articles