The peak of summer is widely associated with sunshine and clear skies, with people spending extended periods outdoors, for example at lakes and in the mountains. Though sunscreen is widely used in such settings to protect skin from harmful UV radiation and prevent skin cancer, these products do not always keep people safe.
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Hazardous aromatic compounds, most notably the known human carcinogen benzene, have recently been detected in a range of personal care products (PCPs), including sunscreens, antiperspirants, and dry shampoos. It is important to determine exactly where these toxic contaminants originate to ensure these products are safe for use.
Utilizing the Speed of FUSION PTR-TOF
Liu et al. (2026) recently published a paper titled "Uncovering the source of hazardous aromatic compounds in personal care products," addressing this challenge.1 This project hypothesized that the aromatic contaminants in final consumer products could originate from unintentional chemical impurities present within the products’ raw ingredients.
The researchers compiled a wide-ranging list of 192 candidate ingredient samples (from 64 distinct PCP ingredients) to screen for volatile aromatic impurities. They also analyzed 60 commercial sunscreen formulations to prove that these contaminants make it into the final products. In total, 252 samples were screened during this study.
Preparing, sampling, and analyzing over 250 samples using conventional technologies such as gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) would require a project lasting nearly a month.
This projected time period assumes a standard 40-hour workweek and the assumption that a single GC-MS run for one sample, including the required and time-consuming sample preparation, takes well over 30 minutes, including weighing, solvent extraction, sustained shaking, and filtration.
The research team instead leveraged IONICON’s FUSION PTR-TOF, implementing a fast-screening, high-throughput approach for the raw ingredients. No sample preparation was required, with the researchers simply placing a small amount of the raw ingredient into a glass tube prior to analysis. A complete measurement cycle was executed in exactly four minutes, including background air, sample headspace, and return to background.
To put this unprecedented speed into perspective: continuously analyzing a batch of 252 samples at this rate would take just under 17 hours in total.
Benefits of Non-Targeted Analysis
Speed is only part of the equation. While older quadrupole-based technologies often suffer from severe isobaric interferences and are restricted to scanning a single nominal m/z ratio, the high-resolution Time-of-Flight (TOF) mass analyzer underpinning the FUSION PTR-TOF instantaneously captures a complete, non-targeted mass spectrum.
The PTR-TOF provided the entire VOC emission profile simultaneously, meaning that the researchers knew which volatile organic compounds (VOCs) to look for. Every trace impurity was captured with unparalleled sensitivity and mass resolving power.
Results Confirmed by GC-MS
GC-MS is considered the gold standard for rigorous verification. The researchers took the subset of positive samples and subjected them to careful offline GC-MS analysis to cross-check the findings of the rapid FUSION PTR-TOF screening.
The GC-MS data confirmed the PTR-TOFMS findings with no discrepancies, highlighting the ability of IONICON's PTR-TOF to accurately and reliably identify the contaminated batches.
This study showcases the benefits of using IONICON’s PTR-TOF technology in applications that demand a combination of rapid sample throughput and the highest selectivity and sensitivity.
The FUSION PTR-TOF 10 delivers uncompromising performance whether used to explore complex atmospheric chemistry or to locate elusive contaminants in a high-stakes quality control environment.
This level of analytical confidence is essential all year round, not just during the summer months.
References and Further Reading
- Wei Liu, et al. (2026). Uncovering the source of hazardous aromatic compounds in personal care products. Chem Circularity, p.100109. DOI:10.1016/j.checir.2026.100109. https://www.cell.com/chem-circularity/fulltext/S3051-2948(26)00105-2?_returnURL=https%3A%2F%2Flinkinghub.elsevier.com%2Fretrieve%2Fpii%2FS3051294826001052%3Fshowall%3Dtrue.
This information has been sourced, reviewed, and adapted from materials provided by IONICON Analytik.
For more information on this source, please visit IONICON Analytik.