Survey of chemical substances in consumer products No. 169, 2018
Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), also known as fluoroalkyl substances (or the short term 'fluorinated substances'), are a large group of substances used in a wide range of consumer products to make them water-, grease- and dirt-repellent. PFAS and other fluorinated compounds are used in cosmetic products because they are surfactants and therefore make creams etc. penetrate the skin more easily, make the skin brighter, make the skin absorb more oxygen, or make the makeup more durable and weather resistant. Fluoroalkyl substances and other fluorinated compounds are used, for example, in foundation, moisturizer, eyeshadow, powder and lipstick, shaving cream etc. The purpose of the project was to build knowledge of fluoroalkyl substances in cosmetic products and to clarify whether the use of cosmetic products containing certain fluoroalkyl substances presents a health risk to consumers. In the report 17 different cosmetic products with declared content of Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) or other fluorinated compounds were tested for the content of total organic fluorine and specific PFAS. The report also contains a risk assessment of the selected cosmetic products based on the analysis of specific PFAS.