Quantitation of the nitrosamine 2-ethylhexyl-4-(N-methyl-N-nitrosoamino) benzoate (NPABAO) in sunscreen products.

We have devised a method to quantitate the nitrosamine, 2-ethylhexyl-4-(N-methyl-N-nitrosoamino) benzoate (NPABAO), in commercial products containing the sunscreen ingredient, Padimate O. The method involves a minimum of cleanup steps to afford a nonaqueous extract from product emulsions suitable for analysis by a liquid chromatograph interfaced to a thermal energy analyzer (LC/TEA). The method is applicable to lotions, creams, and gels. Oils are normally soluble in the mobile phase and can be analyzed directly on the LC/TEA without additional cleanup procedures. The method has a minimum detectable limit of about 30 ppb and yields greater than 80% recovery. It is highly reproducible and generates no NPABAO artifactually prior to quantitation on the LC/TEA. Application of the method to 22 different commercial product formulas disclosed that the level of NPABAO in each of the products is below 250 ppb, with 18 of the products containing less than 100 ppb. Of interest was the observation that musk ketone, a common fragrance constituent, produces a false-positive TEA response that can interfere with accurate analysis of NPABAO content in typical commercial products.