Evaluation of phthalate levels in Nigeria-made sanitary pads

Excessive exposure of premenopausal women and post-menarche girls to phthalates from sanitary pads may cause endocrine disruption, hormonal imbalance, and reproductive impairment. Studies indicate that phthalates, such as diisobutyl phthalate (DiBP), dibutyl phthalate (DBP), and di(2- ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), are frequently detected (>90% of samples) in sanitary pads globally; data are currently not available for Nigeria-made sanitary pads. This study identified and quantified phthalates in sanitary pads branded and marketed in Nigeria. Six brands of Nigerian sanitary pads were homogenized in triplicate and air-dried to a constant weight. Samples were extracted using a hexane–acetone mixture in an ultrasonic extraction apparatus, followed by clean-up and analysis using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). Twelve phthalate congeners were detected. DiBP had the highest concentrations, ranging from 1.757 to 83.010 mg.kg-1 , followed by di-n-pentylphthalate (DNPP: 0.321–12.936 mg.kg-1 ) and DBP (0.169–12.616 mg.kg-1 ). The concentrations and daily exposure doses (DEDs) of butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP), dicyclohexyl phthalate (DCHP), di-n-octyl phthalate (DNOP), diisononyl phthalate (DINP) were either below the limit of quantification or ≤1 mg.kg-1 across all brands. The DEDs of phthalates in this study were substantially higher than those reported in comparable global studies. The elevated DED levels of DiBP across all brands raise significant health concerns, given the high permeability of the mucosal surfaces of the vulva and vaginal orifices during menstruation in women of reproductive age. These findings highlight the urgent need for routine regulatory monitoring and the development of alternative technologies to minimize or eliminate phthalate exposure from sanitary products.