#1 what is optical brighteners?
According to the national standard GB/T 6687-2006 "Terminology of Dyes", a fluorescent whitening agent is a fluorescent dye that can excite blue and purple light under UV irradiation, complementing yellow light on the substrate and having a whitening effect.
Fluorescent whitening agents are not a single substance, but a general term for a large group of substances that can emit fluorescence and have a whitening effect, covering numerous compounds. There are nearly 400 fluorescent whitening agents with institutional registration numbers, and after years of practice, less than 100 are still in production. Among them, according to the parent chemical structure, it can be divided into triazine aminostilbene type, pyrazoline type, naphthalimide type, styrene biphenyl type, benzoxazole type, coumarin type
#2 Fluorescent commodity & optical brighteners
There are many substances that can undergo fluorescence reactions under UV lamp irradiation, such as some vitamins, amino acids, benzene rings, etc. Many common foods also have fluorescence reactions, such as soy sauce, Pu'er tea, Baijiu, coffee and other fermented foods. Most plant extracts, such as flavonoids and ginseng, also exhibit fluorescence reactions. Some plant extracts contain fluorescent substances that are effective ingredients in cosmetics.
As consumers, when using ultraviolet lamps for visual observation, human factors are relatively large, and the ultraviolet lamp irradiation method measures various fluorescent substances including fluorescent whitening agents, and cannot determine the specific type and content of fluorescent agents based on fluorescence intensity. This ultraviolet radiation has a stimulating effect on the eyes. It is not scientific to conduct product fluorescent agent testing solely through UV lamp irradiation, and the detection of fluorescent whitening agents requires scientific and standardized testing methods.
#3 Rules at home and abroad
Since the 1950s and 1960s, research has been conducted abroad on the safety of fluorescent whitening agents. There are also relevant requirements for the use of fluorescent whitening agents both domestically and internationally:
According to US Federal Regulations (CFR), fluorescent whitening agents can be used as indirect food additives, and some fluorescent whitening agents are allowed to be used in food packaging containers, as well as in uncoated paper and cardboard, but with limitations on the maximum amount added.
The EU directive on plastic products intended to come into contact with food also introduces the types of fluorescent whitening agents that can be used and provides allowable amounts.
There are no restrictions on the use of fluorescent whitening agents in European cosmetic packaging materials.
• The International Cosmetic Bottle Raw Material Dictionary and Manual (12th Edition) published by the American Cosmetic and Toiletry Products and perfume Association specifies the types of fluorescent whitening agents that can be used.
Japan's food hygiene laws require that fluorescent whitening agents used in packaging paper in contact with food must not have mobility.
• It is stipulated in Taiwan, China, China that paper products, clothing, facial mask and other products that contact the skin should not contain fluorescent substances that can migrate to the skin.
The National Food and Drug Administration has released the 2015 edition of the Safety Technical Specifications for Cosmetics, which does not include fluorescent whitening agents in the prohibited and restricted component tables. However, it is explicitly stated that packaging materials that come into direct contact with cosmetics should be safe, must not react with cosmetics, and must not migrate or release toxic and harmful substances that pose a threat to human health. In addition, the "Catalogue of Used Cosmetic Raw Materials (2021 Edition)" includes the commonly used fluorescent whitening agent "Disodium Diphenylene Disulfonate (CBS)".
#4 how to choose safe products
As consumers, there is no need to be intimidated by the so-called "fluorescent agents" displayed under ultraviolet light, it exists not only in cosmetics, but also in detergents and paper products in daily life. As long as products with inspection certificates purchased through legitimate channels have been approved by relevant departments for their added substances and dosage, meet national quality standards, and are controlled within a safe range, they can be used surely.
