• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.89-98
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• 2023

Analytical methods for detecting atranol, chloroatranol, evernic acid, (+)-usnic acid, and atranorin in sanitary napkins and mouthwashes were developed using ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS). UHPLC-MS/MS conditions were optimized for rapid, sensitive, and simultaneous analysis of the five allergenic compounds. The methods were validated by assessing their specificity, matrix effects, limit of detection (LOD), limit of quantification (LOQ), linearity, accuracy, and precision. Good linearity was achieved with a determination coefficient of ≥0.99. The LOD and LOQ were 2.1-9.8 and 6.4-29.6 ng/g for sanitary napkins and 0.29-0.48 and 0.87-1.45 ng/mL for mouthwashes, respectively. The accuracy and precision were within an acceptable range according to the criteria reported in the European SANTE/11813/2017 guidelines (70-120 % recovery, <20 % relative standard deviation). Therefore, these methods can be used to analyze atranol, chloroatranol, evernic acid, (+)-usnic acid, and atranorin in sanitary napkins and mouthwashes.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.853-859
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• 2009

Endometriosis becomes the most common cause of pelvic pain and infertility women. The cause of endometriosis has ever been entirely proven. However, an increased use of commercial feminine hygiene products such as tampons and sanitary napkins was considered one of the major affect. Harmful substances in feminine hygiene products was analyzed and evaluated. Samples of commercial products obtained from Korea, Japan, America, Germany, and China were analyzed for six hazardous inorganic elements (chromium, cobalt, nickel, copper, cadmium and lead). In the extractable heavy metals of napkins, Cr, Ni and Cu were found in all of the samples, while Cd was detected only in two samples. In the tampons, Cr, Ni and Cu were found in all of the samples. The presence of Co and Cd was not detected in all samples The concentrations of extractable heavy metals in the tampons were lower than those in the sanitary napkins. The content of extractable heavy metals in the sanitary products was compared with the criteria of the 100 $\ddot{O}KO$ TEX Standard. It was confirmed that the level of heavy metals in the sanitary products posed no serious risk to health, based on the human-ecological criteria defined by the 100 $\ddot{O}KO$ TEX Standard.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.1093-1096
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• 2012

Background: Cervical cancer is common among women worldwide. A multitude of risk factors aggravate the disease. This study was conducted to: (1) determine the prevalence and (2) make a comparative analysis of the socio-demographic and behavioural risk factors of cervical cancer and knowledge, attitude and practice between rural and urban women of North Bengal, India. Study Design: Community-based cross-sectional study. Methods: A survey (first in North Bengal) was conducted among 133 women in a rural area (Kawakhali) and 88 women in an urban slum (Shaktigarh) using predesigned semi-structured questionnaires. The respondents were informed of the causes (including HPV), signs and symptoms, prevention of cervical cancer and treatment, and the procedure of the PAP test and HPV vaccination. Results: The prevalence of risk factors like multiparity, early age of marriage, use of cloth during menstruation, use of condom and OCP, early age of first intercourse was 37.2%, 82%, 83.3%, 5.4%, 15.8% and 65.6% respectively. Awareness about the cause, signs and symptoms, prevention of cervical cancer, PAP test and HPV vaccination was 3.6%, 6.3%, 3.6%, 9.5% and 14.5% respectively. Chi-square testing revealed that in the study population, significant differential at 5% exists between rural and urban residents with respect to number of children, use of cloth/sanitary napkins, family history of cancer and awareness regarding causes of cervical cancer. Regarding KAP, again using chi-square tests, surprisingly, level of education is found to be significant for each element of KAP in urban areas in contrast to complete absence of association between education and elements of KAP in rural areas. Conclusions: A large number of risk factors were present in both areas, the prevalence being higher in the rural areas. The level of awareness and role of education appears to be insignificant determinants in rural compared to urban areas. This pilot study needs to be followed up by large scale programmes to re-orient awareness campaigns, especially in rural areas.