Analysis of isothiazolinone preservatives in household deodorizers and air fresheners through solid-phase extraction and liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry

Abstract

Isothiazolinone preservatives are known to cause contact dermatitis. Although they are used in household deodorizers and air fresheners, the actual extent of their use remains unclear. In this study, we developed a method to simultaneously analyze five isothiazolinones (2-methyl-4-isothiazilin-3-one: MI, 5-choro-2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one: CMI, benzisothiazolin-3-one: BIT, 2-n-octyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one: OIT, 4,5-dichloro-n-octyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one: 2Cl-OIT) in spray-type household deodorizers and air fresheners. The samples were analyzed through solid-phase extraction and liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. Three solid-phase extraction cartridges were examined, and good results were obtained for the OASIS HLB Plus LP cartridge. The recoveries and standard deviations for isothiazolinone preservatives extracted using this cartridge were 72–99 and 1.6–6.0%, respectively. In addition, the limit of detection and limit of quantification were as follow: 0.012 and 0.037 μg/mL for MI, 0.029 and 0.089 μg/mL for CMI, 0.032 and 0.098 μg/mL for BIT, 0.013 and 0.040 μg/mL for OIT, and 0.015 and 0.047 μg/mL for 2Cl-OIT. Among the 51 analyzed products, only 10 were detected with isothiazolinone compounds. MI and CMI were detected in five products at concentration levels of 0.31–22 and 0.77–95 μg/mL, respectively, while BIT was detected in the other five products at 2.7–101 μg/mL.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords:

• Isothiazolinone preservatives
• household deodorizers
• air fresheners
• solid-phase extraction
• liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry

Disclosure statement

There are no conflicts of interest to declare.