{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,30]],"date-time":"2026-04-30T22:19:20Z","timestamp":1777587560152,"version":"3.51.4"},"reference-count":50,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"7","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2022,3,31]],"date-time":"2022-03-31T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1648684800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"International Disposables and Nonwovens Association (EDANA)","award":["none"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["none"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["IJERPH"],"abstract":"<jats:p>In January 2019, the French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety (ANSES) published an opinion on risks related to the presence of hazardous chemicals in infant diapers. ANSES found that health reference values were largely exceeded for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), dioxins (PCCD\/Fs) and dioxin-like polychlorobiphenyls (DL-PCBs). The levels of formaldehyde and some fragrances were also considered potentially unsafe. Therefore, ANSES concluded that actions have to be taken to restrict levels of these contaminants in diapers. Under the exposure scenario deemed the most reliable by ANSES, estimates of cancer risks of the most potent PAHs detected in diapers exceeded 10\u22123 and hazard quotients for neurobehavioral effects attained values up to 66. Regarding dioxins and DL-PCBs, ANSES derived a hazard quotient of 12 for the risk of decreased sperm count at adult age. The aim of this study was to examine whether the exposure and risk assessment conducted by ANSES contained potential flaws that could explain such a high exceedance of health reference values. This study also put into perspective the exposure from diapers with that from breast milk whose benefits for children\u2019s health are undisputable despite contamination by PAHs, dioxins and DL-PCBS.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph19074159","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2022,3,31]],"date-time":"2022-03-31T21:33:03Z","timestamp":1648762383000},"page":"4159","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":9,"title":["Dermal Exposure to Hazardous Chemicals in Baby Diapers: A Re-Evaluation of the Quantitative Health Risk Assessment Conducted by The French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety (ANSES)"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"19","author":[{"given":"Alfred","family":"Bernard","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Institut de Recherche Exp\u00e9rimentale et Clinique (IREC), Universit\u00e9 catholique de Louvain, 1200 Brussels, Belgium"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2022,3,31]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"214","DOI":"10.1016\/j.yrtph.2017.09.011","article-title":"Safety evaluation for ingredients used in baby care products: Consideration of diaper rash","volume":"90","author":"Felter","year":"2017","journal-title":"Regul. Toxicol. Pharmacol."},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"7S","DOI":"10.1177\/0009922814540374","article-title":"Diaper care for happier and healthier babies","volume":"53","author":"Russell","year":"2014","journal-title":"Clin. Paediatr."},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1262","DOI":"10.1080\/15287390903212246","article-title":"Safety evaluation of disposable baby diapers using principles of quantitative risk assessment","volume":"72","author":"Rai","year":"2009","journal-title":"J. Toxicol. Environ. Health A."},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"183","DOI":"10.1016\/j.yrtph.2016.08.017","article-title":"Exposure factor considerations for safety evaluation of modern disposable diaper","volume":"81","author":"Dey","year":"2016","journal-title":"Regul. Toxicol. Pharmacol."},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"23","DOI":"10.1289\/ehp.0211023","article-title":"Exposure assessment to dioxins from the use of tampons and diapers","volume":"110","author":"DeVito","year":"2002","journal-title":"Environ. Health Perspect."},{"key":"ref_6","unstructured":"EDANA (2021, July 29). International Disposables and Nonwovens Association. Call for Evidence on a Possible Restriction on PAHs, Furans, Diox-ins, PCBs and Formaldehyde in Single-Use Babby Nappies. Available online: https:\/\/echa.europa.eu\/fr\/registry-of-restriction-intentions\/-\/dislist\/details\/0b0236e1840698d5."},{"key":"ref_7","unstructured":"ANSES (2021, July 29). Agence Nationale de S\u00e9curit\u00e9 Sanitaire de L\u2019alimentation, L\u2019environnement et du Travail, France. S\u00e9curit\u00e9 des Couches Pour B\u00e9b\u00e9. Avis R\u00e9vis\u00e9, Available online: https:\/\/www.anses.fr\/fr\/content\/avis-r\u00e9vis\u00e9-et-rapport-de-lanses-relatif-\u00e0-la-s\u00e9curit\u00e9-des-couches-pour-b\u00e9b\u00e9."},{"key":"ref_8","unstructured":"ANSES (2021, July 29). French Agency for Food, Occupational and Environmental Health and Safety, Dossier Submitter. Annex xv Restriction Report with Its Annex. Hazardous Chemicals in Single-Use Baby Diapers, Available online: https:\/\/echa.europa.eu\/documents\/10162\/99f020fd-e8ae-1b66-4fe6-0ec40789db8a."},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"57","DOI":"10.1016\/j.esd.2015.09.005","article-title":"Anaerobic digestion of undiluted simulant human excreta for sanitation and energy recovery in less-developed countries","volume":"29","author":"Deshusses","year":"2015","journal-title":"Energy Sustain. Dev."},{"key":"ref_10","unstructured":"U.S.  EPA (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) (2021, July 29). Toxicological Review of Benzo[a]pyrene, Available online: https:\/\/iris.epa.gov\/static\/pdfs\/0136tr.pdf."},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"101","DOI":"10.1016\/j.yrtph.2010.09.011","article-title":"Development and application of a skin cancer slope factor for exposures to benzo[a]pyrene in soil","volume":"59","author":"Knafla","year":"2011","journal-title":"Regul. Toxicol. Pharmacol."},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"461","DOI":"10.1038\/sj.jid.5701032","article-title":"Proportion of skin surface area of children and young adults from 2 to 18 years old","volume":"128","author":"Boniol","year":"2008","journal-title":"J. Investig. Dermatol."},{"key":"ref_13","unstructured":"U.S. EPA (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) (2021, July 29). Exposure Factors Handbook. Edition (Final), Available online: https:\/\/cfpub.epa.gov\/ncea\/risk\/recordisplay.cfm?deid=236252."},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) (2008). Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Food. Scientific Opinion of the Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain. Risk for Animal and Human Health Related to the Presence of Dioxins and Dioxin-Like PCBs in Feed and Food. EFSA J., 724, 1\u2013114. Available online: https:\/\/www.efsa.europa.eu\/fr\/efsajournal\/pub\/724.","DOI":"10.2903\/j.efsa.2008.724"},{"key":"ref_15","unstructured":"EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) (2018). Risk for Animal and Human Health Related To the Presence of Dioxins and Dioxin-like PCBs in Feed and Food. EFSA J., 16, 5333. Available online: https:\/\/www.efsa.europa.eu\/en\/efsajournal\/pub\/5333."},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"155","DOI":"10.1016\/j.scitotenv.2013.02.057","article-title":"Levels of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins, polychlorinated dibenzofurans and polychlorinated biphenyls in human milk from different regions of France","volume":"452\u2013453","author":"Focant","year":"2013","journal-title":"Sci. Total Environ."},{"key":"ref_17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"224","DOI":"10.1016\/j.envint.2013.08.019","article-title":"Temporal trends of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls in mothers\u2019 milk from Sweden, 1972-2011","volume":"60","author":"Nyberg","year":"2013","journal-title":"Environ. Int."},{"key":"ref_18","unstructured":"ATSDR (Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry) (2021, July 29). Toxicological Profile for Chlorinated Dibenzo-p-Dioxins, Available online: https:\/\/www.atsdr.cdc.gov\/toxprofiles\/tp104.pdf."},{"key":"ref_19","unstructured":"ATSDR (Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry) (2021, July 29). Addendum to the Toxicological Profile for Chlorinated Dibenzo-p-Dioxins, Available online: https:\/\/www.atsdr.cdc.gov\/toxprofiles\/cdds_addendum.pdf."},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1807","DOI":"10.1016\/S0045-6535(98)00246-X","article-title":"Decrease in levels and body burden of dioxins, dibenzofurans, PCBS, DDE, and HCB in blood and milk in a mother nursing twins over a thirty-eight months period","volume":"37","author":"Schecter","year":"1998","journal-title":"Chemosphere"},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1596","DOI":"10.1289\/ehp.8884","article-title":"Age- and concentration-dependent elimination half-life of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin in Seveso children","volume":"114","author":"Kerger","year":"2006","journal-title":"Environ. Health Perspect."},{"key":"ref_22","first-page":"33","article-title":"Relative effective potencies of dioxin-like compounds in rodent and human lung cell models","volume":"404\u2013405","author":"Anderssonb","year":"2018","journal-title":"Toxicology"},{"key":"ref_23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1293","DOI":"10.1007\/s00204-016-1724-9","article-title":"Evaluation of relative effective potencies (REPs) for dioxin-like compounds to derive systemic or human-specific TEFs to improve human risk assessment","volume":"90","year":"2016","journal-title":"Arch. Toxicol."},{"key":"ref_24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"103","DOI":"10.1016\/j.cotox.2017.01.005","article-title":"One TEF concept does not fit all: The case for human risk assessment of polychlorinated biphenyls","volume":"2","year":"2017","journal-title":"Curr. Opinion Toxicol."},{"key":"ref_25","unstructured":"U.S. EPA (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) (2021, July 29). Reanalysis of Key Issues Related to Dioxin Toxicity and Response to NAS Comments, Available online: https:\/\/cfpub.epa.gov\/ncea\/iris\/iris_documents\/documents\/supdocs\/dioxinv1sup.pdf."},{"key":"ref_26","unstructured":"IARC (International Agency for Research on Cancer) (2021, July 29). IARC Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans. Volume 69. Polychlorinated Dibenzo-Para-Dioxins and Polychlorinated Dibenzofurans, Available online: https:\/\/monographs.iarc.who.int\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/mono69.pdf."},{"key":"ref_27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"460","DOI":"10.1289\/EHP25","article-title":"A longitudinal study of peripubertal serum organochlorine concentrations and semen parameters in young men: The Russian Children\u2019s Study","volume":"125","author":"Sergeyev","year":"2017","journal-title":"Environ. Health Perspect."},{"key":"ref_28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"70","DOI":"10.1289\/ehp.10399","article-title":"Dioxin exposure, from infancy through puberty, produces endocrine disruption and affects human semen quality","volume":"116","author":"Mocarelli","year":"2008","journal-title":"Environ. Health Perspect."},{"key":"ref_29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"869","DOI":"10.1001\/jamapediatrics.2013.95","article-title":"Association of breastfeeding with higher serum inhibin B level at adolescence","volume":"167","author":"Bernard","year":"2013","journal-title":"JAMA Pediatr."},{"key":"ref_30","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"646","DOI":"10.1093\/humupd\/dmx022","article-title":"Temporal trends in sperm count: A systematic review and meta-regression analysis","volume":"23","author":"Levine","year":"2017","journal-title":"Hum. Reprod. Update"},{"key":"ref_31","unstructured":"INERIS (Institut National de l\u2019Environnement Industriel et des Risques) (2021, July 29). Hydrocarbures Aromatiques Polycycliques (HAPs). \u00c9valuation de la Relation Dose-R\u00e9ponse Pour Des Effets Canc\u00e9rig\u00e8nes: Approche Substance Par Substance (Facteurs D\u2019\u00e9quivalence Toxique-FET) et Approche Par M\u00c9langes. \u00c9valuation de la Relation Dose-R\u00e9ponse Pour des Effets non Canc\u00e9rig\u00e9nes: Valeurs Toxicologiques de R\u00e9f\u00e9rence (VTR). Available online: https:\/\/www.ineris.fr\/fr\/hydrocarbures-aromatiques-polycycliques-haps."},{"key":"ref_32","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"383","DOI":"10.1016\/j.chemosphere.2017.02.084","article-title":"Comparative study on the occurrence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in breast milk and infant formula and risk assessment","volume":"175","author":"Santonicola","year":"2017","journal-title":"Chemosphere"},{"key":"ref_33","unstructured":"Dudler, V. (2021). risk evaluation division."},{"key":"ref_34","unstructured":"ADSTR (2021, July 29). Toxicological Profile for Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Public Health Service. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Available online: https:\/\/www.atsdr.cdc.gov\/toxprofiles\/tp69.pdf."},{"key":"ref_35","unstructured":"IARC (International Agency for Research on Cancer) (2021, July 29). IARC Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans. Chemical Agents and Related Occupations, Available online: https:\/\/publications.iarc.fr\/Book-And-Report-Series\/Iarc-Monographs-On-The-Identification-Of-Carcinogenic-Hazards-To-Humans\/Chemical-Agents-And-Related-Occupations-2012."},{"key":"ref_36","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"81","DOI":"10.1007\/s00204-018-2329-2","article-title":"A realistic human skin model to study benzo[a]pyrene cutaneous absorption in order to determine the most relevant biomarker for carcinogenic exposure","volume":"93","author":"Bourgart","year":"1999","journal-title":"Arch. Toxicol."},{"key":"ref_37","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"109","DOI":"10.1016\/j.envint.2018.12.058","article-title":"Lung cancer risk assessment for workers exposed to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in various industries","volume":"124","author":"Petit","year":"2019","journal-title":"Environ. Internat."},{"key":"ref_38","first-page":"1","article-title":"Breastfeeding and maternal and infant health outcomes in developed countries","volume":"153","author":"Ip","year":"2006","journal-title":"Evid. Rep. Technol. Assess."},{"key":"ref_39","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"7","DOI":"10.1177\/1010539515624964","article-title":"The long-term public health benefits of breastfeeding","volume":"28","author":"Binns","year":"2016","journal-title":"Asia Pac. J. Public Health."},{"key":"ref_40","unstructured":"Dyer, D. (2021, July 29). Seven Decades of Disposable Diapers. A Record of Continuous Innovation and Expanding Benefit. The Wintrop Group, Inc. on Behalf of EDANA. Available online: http:\/\/www.edana.org\/docs\/default-source\/absorbent-hygiene-products\/edana---seven-decades-of-diapers.pdf?sfvrsn=3e24da152."},{"key":"ref_41","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"654","DOI":"10.12998\/wjcc.v2.i11.654","article-title":"Squamous cell carcinoma of the scrotum: A look beyond the chimneystacks","volume":"16","author":"Vyas","year":"2014","journal-title":"World J. Clin. Cases"},{"key":"ref_42","unstructured":"Gibson, J.E. (1983). Disposition of [14C] formaldehyde after topical exposure to rats, guinea pigs, and monkeys. Formaldehyde Toxicity, Hemisphere Publishing Corporation."},{"key":"ref_43","unstructured":"ATSDR (Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry) (2021, July 29). Toxicological Profile for Formaldehyde, Available online: https:\/\/www.atsdr.cdc.gov\/toxprofiles\/tp111.pdf."},{"key":"ref_44","unstructured":"SCCS (Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety) (2021, July 29). Opinion on the Safety of the Use of Formaldehyde in Nail Hardeners. European Commission, Luxembourg. Available online: http:\/\/ec.europa.eu\/health\/scientific_committees\/consumer_safety\/index_en.htm."},{"key":"ref_45","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"EFSA (European Food Safety Laboratory) (2014). Endogenous Formaldehyde Turnover in Humans Compared with Exogenous Contribution from Food Sources. EFSA J., 12, 3550. Available online: https:\/\/efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/epdf\/10.2903\/j.efsa.2014.3550.","DOI":"10.2903\/j.efsa.2014.3550"},{"key":"ref_46","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"130","DOI":"10.1177\/1091581813479979","article-title":"The fate of dermally applied [14C] d-limonene in rats and humans","volume":"32","author":"Api","year":"2013","journal-title":"Int. J. Toxicol."},{"key":"ref_47","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"S318","DOI":"10.1016\/j.fct.2007.09.066","article-title":"A toxicologic and dermatologic assessment of salicylates when used as fragrance ingredients","volume":"45","author":"Belsito","year":"2007","journal-title":"Food Chem. Toxicol."},{"key":"ref_48","unstructured":"SCCS (Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety) (2021, July 29). Opinion on hydroxyisohexyl 3-cyclohexene carboxaldehyde (HICC). European Commission, Luxembourg. Available online: https:\/\/ec.europa.eu\/health\/scientific_committees\/consumer_safety\/docs\/sccs_o_074.pdf."},{"key":"ref_49","unstructured":"SCCS (Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety) (2021, July 29). Opinion on the Safety of Butylphenyl methylpropional (p-BMHCA) in Cosmetic Products. European Commission, Luxem-bourg. Available online: https:\/\/ec.europa.eu\/health\/sites\/default\/files\/scientific_committees\/consumer_safety\/docs\/sccs_o_213.pdf."},{"key":"ref_50","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"229","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1346-8138.1983.tb01132.x","article-title":"Penetration of fragrance compounds through human epidermis","volume":"10","author":"Jimbo","year":"1983","journal-title":"J. Dermatol."}],"container-title":["International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/1660-4601\/19\/7\/4159\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,10]],"date-time":"2025-10-10T22:47:37Z","timestamp":1760136457000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/1660-4601\/19\/7\/4159"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2022,3,31]]},"references-count":50,"journal-issue":{"issue":"7","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2022,4]]}},"alternative-id":["ijerph19074159"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/ijerph19074159","relation":{"has-preprint":[{"id-type":"doi","id":"10.20944\/preprints202107.0710.v1","asserted-by":"object"}]},"ISSN":["1660-4601"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1660-4601","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2022,3,31]]}}}