Concentrations and assessment of exposure to siloxanes and synthetic musks in personal care products from China

We investigated the concentrations and profiles of 15 siloxanes (four cyclic siloxanes, D4–D7; 11 linear siloxanes, L4–L14), four synthetic musks (two polycyclic musks, HHCB and AHTN; two nitro musks, MX and MK), and HHCB-lactone, in 158 personal care products marketed in China. Siloxanes were detected in 88% of the samples analyzed, at concentrations as high as 52.6 mg g−1; Linear siloxanes were the predominant compounds. Among synthetic musks, more than 80% of the samples contained at least one of these compounds, and their total concentrations were as high as 1.02 mg g−1. HHCB was the predominant musk in all of the samples analyzed, on average, accounting for 52% of the total musk concentrations. Based on the median concentrations of siloxanes and musks and the average daily usage amounts of consumer products, dermal exposure rates in adults were calculated to be 3.69 and 3.38 mg d−1 for siloxanes and musks, respectively.

► Siloxanes and synthetic musks are determined in personal care products.
► Highest siloxane concentration was 52.6 mg g−1.
► Highest musk concentration was 1.02 mg g−1.
► Daily dermal exposure rates of siloxanes and musks were in mg levels.
► Dermal exposure is a major pathway of human exposure to siloxanes and musks.