[Frontiers in Bioscience E2, 1169-1183 June 1, 2010]

Risk from exposure to arylamines from consumer products and hair dyes

Thomas Platzek

Thomas Platzek Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Thielallee 88-92, D-14195 Berlin, Germany

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Abstract
2. Introduction
3. Genotoxicity and carcinogenicity of arylamines
4. Dermal absorption and skin metabolism
5. Exposure assessment
5.1. Exposure from tobacco smoke and involuntary smoking
5.2. Exposure from food and food contact material
5.3. Various exposures (drugs, pesticides, ink, rubber and polyurethane)
5.4. Exposure stemming from colorants
5.4.1. Exposure to arylamines related to azo colorants
5.4.2. Exposure from illegal colorants in food
5.4.3. Exposure from cosmetic colorants
5.4.4. Exposure from tattooing pigments
5.4.5. Exposure from clothing
5.4.6. Exposure from toys
5.4.7. Exposure from oxidative and non-oxidative hair dyes
5.4.8. Exposure from oxidative hair dye reaction products
5.4.9. Exposure to the hair dye contaminant 4-aminobiphenyl
6. References

1. ABSTRACT

Arylamines are widely used for the manufacturing of elastomers, colorants and consumer products. Furthermore they are part of many colorants either as contaminant or as cleavage product. Also many hair dyes are arylamines. Thus consumers are exposed from various sources and products, especially high exposure is contributed by tobacco smoke. Many of the arylamines and colorants derived from them are mutagenic and/or carcinogenic. In contrast, a considerable number of arylamines has been proven to be non hazardous. In other cases exposure was negligible. Insofar the risk due to exposure to arylamines from consumer products has to be assessed case by case considering the toxicological profile and the exposure for each individual substance and product.