국내 저가형 생활용품 매장에서 유통되는 아이메이크업 제품의 과불화화합물(PFAS) 성분 분석 및 안구 노출 평가

Quantification and Ocular Exposure Assessment of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in Mass-Market Eye-Makeup Products

Background: Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), commonly referred to as “forever chemicals,” are widely used in cookware coatings, food packaging, and cosmetics. Despite increasing consumption of low-cost cosmetics purchased from mass-market retailers in South Korea, few studies have evaluated their potential for PFAS contamination and ocular exposure. Objectives: 1) To quantify PFAS in eye-makeup cosmetics sold at a major mass-market retailer; and 2) to evaluate potential ocular exposure based on a daily use scenario. Methods: We purchased four eye-makeup products—eyeliner, mascara, eyeshadow, and under-eyeliner— from a major retailer in South Korea. Twenty-eight PFAS were quantified using liquid chromatography– high resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS). In Phase I, the PFAS concentrations in each cosmetic were measured, and the daily dermal dose of PFAS was estimated by PFAS concentration × daily cosmetics usage amount. In Phase II, contact lenses were used as proxy indicators of the eye to evaluate potential ocular exposure. One of the authors wore contact lenses for eight hours following typical eye-makeup application, and PFAS deposited on the lenses were quantified. Results: In Phase I, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) was detected in eyeshadow (mean 26.35 ng/g), and the estimated daily dermal application dose was 0.537 ng/day. 6:2 fluorotelomer sulfonate (6:2FTS) was detected in eyeshadow (mean 0.32 ng/g) and under-eyeliner (mean 1.045 ng/g), and the daily dermal application dose was 0.0064 ng/day and 0.01045 ng/day, respectively. In Phase II, ocular exposure assessment showed 0.204 ng/ day of PFOA deposition on the contact lenses, indicating that approximately 38% of the dermal dose (PFOA 0.537 ng/day) was directly transferred to the ocular surface. Conclusions: This is the first evidence that PFAS are present in mass-market eye-makeup products in South Korea and can be transferred to the eye. These findings suggest a need to strengthen PFAS management and pathway-specific risk assessments for eye makeup products. Consumers should also be aware of the potential for PFAS exposure from cosmetics.