Health Risk Assessment of Dermal Exposure to Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons from the Use of Infant Diapers

In September 2021, the European Chemicals Agency evaluated a dossier for restricting polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in infant diapers and concluded that risks were not demonstrated, because of inconclusive exposure data. To fill this gap, we measured the 16 priority PAHs of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in the diaper core of four brands and in the sheets and fastening tapes of six brands of commercially available diapers. Health risks were conservatively assessed by assuming that dermally absorbed PAHs can cause both local (skin cancer) and systemic critical effects (neurobehavioral changes). Total concentrations of PAHs in the diaper core and top sheet, the only significant contributors to skin exposure, averaged 26.5 μg/kg and 66.6 μg/kg, respectively. Excess skin cancer risks and hazard quotients for neurobehavioral effects calculated with the daily dose of total PAHs from the combined diaper core and top sheet averaged 1.44 × 10^-7 and 1.19 × 10^-2, respectively. The median daily doses of total PAHs and of its benzo[a]pyrene-equivalent from breast milk estimated worldwide are 171 and 30 times greater than that from the combined diaper core and top sheet, respectively. Altogether, these findings indicate that trace levels of PAHs found in infant diapers are unlikely to pose health risks.