Analysis of nitrosamines in cosmetic products

You want to analyze nitrosamines in your cosmetic products?

What are nitrosamines?

Comprising a large number of molecules, nitrosamines are products essentially composed of nitrogen and oxygen. Found in many areas, they have been identified in the manufacture of cosmetics.

The production of nitrosamines in cosmetics and personal care products is found in two ways:

  1. If there is an ingredient that acts as a nitrosating agent in cosmetic products, nitrosamines are formed that way.
  2. Nitrosamines also form if cosmetic products contain an amine ingredient combined with production or storage conditions that promote nitrosamine formation. Thus, several nitrosamines exist including:
  • NDBA (N-nitrosodibutylamine)
  • NDPA (N-nitrosodipropylamine)
  • NDMA (N-nitrosodimethylamine)
  • NDIPA (Nitroso-diisopropylamine)

It is important to note that nitrosamines, or N-nitroso compounds, are generally produced unintentionally. 

Why analyze nitrosamines in your cosmetic products?

The fight against the formation of nitrosamines is a global strategy, established by cosmetic regulations and the recommendations of professional organizations.

Indeed, nitrosamines have been classified as dangerous and potentially carcinogenic to humans by the IARC and the WHO. This is why a strict European regulation has been defined CE 1223/2009 indicating that nitrosamines should not be part of the composition of cosmetic products above technically unavoidable trace levels in good manufacturing practices.

FILAB laboratory, analysis and measures nitrosamines in your cosmetic products

In order to support cosmetic manufacturers in the development and quality control of their products, by following the regulatory evolutions, the laboratory provides a state-of-the-art analytical park, allowing the determination of nitrosamines and their precursors in trace amounts, in all types of matrices.

Analysis are performed by the LC-MSMS technique

The detection limits for the determination of nitrosamines vary from 1 to 10µk/kg (ppb) depending on the nitrosamines and the type of matrix.

The positive aspects of FILAB

  • A highly qualified team

  • Responsiveness in responding to and processing requests

  • A complete analytical park of 2100m²

  • Tailor-made support

Anaïs DECAUX
Anaïs DECAUX Customer Support Manager
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