An analytical procedure for the determination of aluminum used in antiperspirants on human skin in Franz™ diffusion cell

Abstract

A local case report of hyperaluminemia (aluminum concentration: 3.88 µmol/L) in a woman using an aluminum-containing antiperspirant for 4 years raises the question of possible transdermal uptake of aluminum salt as a future public health problem. Prior to studying the transdermal uptake of three commercialized cosmetic formulas, an analytical assay of aluminum (Al) in chlorohydrate form (ACH) by Zeeman Electrothermal Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (ZEAAS) in a clean room was optimized and validated. This analysis was performed with different media on human skin using a Franz^™ diffusion cell. The detection and quantification limits were set at ≤ 3 µg/L. Precision analysis as within-run (n = 12) and between-run (n = 15–68 days) yield CV ≤ 6%. The high analytic sensitivity (2–3 µg/L) and low variability should allow an in vitro study of the transdermal uptake of ACH.

Keywords::

• Aluminum
• antiperspirant
• human skin
• ZEAAS (Zeeman Electrothermal Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry)
• Franz™ diffusion cell

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank PMIC (Podesta Marty International Consultants, 22 Rue Maurice Labrousse, 92160 Antony, France) for their assistance in the planning of this study. This study was approved by the French Ministry of Health and FIP. We also wish to thank Professor C. Exley (Keele University, UK) for having critically examined the text. We wish to dedicate this article to Professor J.P. Marty (Podesta Marty International Consultants, 22 Rue Maurice Labrousse, 92160 Antony, France).

Declaration of interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.