Glycols in toothpaste on Croatian market

Diethylene Glycol (DEG) (CAS 111-46-6) is a highly toxic organic solvent that may cause nausea, dizziness, kidney failure, breathing problems, convulsions and even coma when ingested. The potential health risks from chronic exposure to DEG are a particular concern in specific vulnerable populations such as children and consumers with kidney or liver disease. DEG is forbidden as cosmetic ingredient but can be present as an impurity in glycerol and polyethylene glycols, common ingredients in oral care products. Maximum permitted concentration as impurity is 0.1%m/m. The objective of this study was to determine the presence of diethylene glycol in toothpaste on the Croatian market using a gas chromatography–mass spectrometry method. Linearity of the response of mass detector was tested by analyzing standard solutions with increasing concentrations of monoethylene glycol and diethylene glycol. Regression analysis of chromatographic data indicates that linearity of response in the detector was within the examined concentration area 0.5-50mg/L, with correlation coefficients >0.998. Limit of detection (LOD) for DEG was <6mg/kg, and for MEG <4mg/kg. Testing was conducted on 30 samples of toothpaste produced and marketed in Croatia and EU. Obtained results were significantly below the permitted threshold of 0.1% thus assuring consumer safety.