New Research Reviews Measurement Methods in Household and Personal Care Products

A new study co-authored by the American Cleaning Institute (ACI) assesses the methodologies to measure a manufacturing byproduct that’s subject to restrictive rules in jurisdictions like New York State.
 
Legislators there passed a law in 2020 that limits the concentration of 1,4-dioxane to parts-per-million (ppm) levels in household cleaning, personal care and cosmetics products. California is considering similar proposals.
 
The research, “Precise measurement of 1,4-dioxane concentration in cleaning products: A review of the current state-of-the-art,” is now available in the Journal of Surfactants and Detergents.
 
“The importance of using the most appropriate method(s) for measurement of 1,4-dioxane in consumer products cannot be stressed enough.” said Kathleen Stanton, ACI Associate Vice President, Technical & International Affairs, a co-author on the research. “These findings will provide a baseline for robust long-term assessment of 1,4-dioxane in commercial products.”
 

Commonly Used in Cleaning Products and Detergents

According to the report, 1,4-dioxane is a byproduct of the manufacturing process for some surfactants contained in cleaning products and detergents and is classified as a potential human carcinogen whose occurrence in surface water and groundwater is of particular concern.
 
The new ACI co-authored review paper assesses the methodologies used to quantify 1,4-dioxane in surface water and drinking water, then extends the assessment to commercially available products, which are more complex.
 
“Because of the complexity of consumer product formulations and the extremely low 1,4-dioxane concentrations mandated by NYS law, optimum conditions for measurement are evaluated. The authors noted the advantages and disadvantages of various methodologies and make specific technical recommendations for which methods and standards should be used,” said the ACI report.