Size-distribution analysis of respirable particulates in cosmetic aerosols: A methodological comparison

Abstract

The size spectra of respirable particulates from five cosmetic aerosol products were determined using the methods of microscopy, cascade impaction, and single particle aerodynamic relaxationtime (SPART) analysis. In order to facilitate methodological comparisons, the same sampling apparatus was used in all phases of the study. The results obtained using the three methods were similar in most cases. The pressurized aerosol products produced particulates with count median diameters of 0·6-1·5 μm and mass median diameters of 2·2–3·2 μm as measured by all methods. The pump spray also yielded particulates with median diameters in these ranges in the microscope and SPART analyses, but in the cascade impaction analysis, the mass median diameter was determined to be 12·8 μm.