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During the last years, the EU market is flooded by illegal cosmetics via the Internet and a so-called "black market". Among these, skin-bleaching products represent an important group. They contain, according to the current European cosmetic legislation (Directive 76/768/EEC), a number of illegal active substances including hydroquinone, tretinoin and corticosteroids. These may provoke as well local as systemic toxic effects, being the reason for their banning from the EU market. To control this market there is a need for a fast screening method capable of detecting illegal ingredients in the wide variety of existing bleaching cosmetic formulations. In this paper the development and validation of an ultra high pressure liquid chromatographic (UHPLC) method is described. The proposed method makes use of a Waters Acquity BEH shield RP18 column with a gradient using 25 mM ammonium borate buffer (pH 10) and acetonitrile. This method is not only able to detect the major illegal (hydroquinone, tretinoin and six dermatologic active corticosteroids) and legal whitening agents, the latter having restrictions with respect to concentration and application (kojic acid, arbutin, nicotinamide and salicylic acid), but can also quantify these in a run time of 12 min. The method was successfully validated using the "total error" approach in accordance with the validation requirements of ISO-17025. During the validation a variety of cosmetic matrices including creams, lotions and soaps were taken into consideration.

To investigate the suitability of citrus-press cakes, by-products of the juice industry as a source for the whitening agents for cosmetic industry.Ethylacetate extracts of citrus-press cakes (CCE) were examined for their anti-melanogenic potentials in terms of the inhibition of melanin production and mechanisim of melanogenesis by using Western Blot analysis with tyrosinese, tyrosinase-related protein-1 (TRP-1), TRP2, and microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF) proteins. To apply the topical agents, citrus-press cakes was investigated the safety in human skin cell line. Finally flavonoid analysis of CCE was also determined by HPLC analysis.Results indicated that CCE were shown to down-regulate melanin content in a dose-dependent pattern. The CCE inhibited tyrosinase, TRP-2, and MITF expressions in a dose-dependent manner. To test the applicability of CCE to human skin, we used MTT assay to assess the cytotoxic effects of CCE on human keratinocyte HaCaT cells. The CCE exhibited low cytotoxicity at 50 µg/mL. Characterization of the citrus-press cakes for flavonoid contents using HPLC showed varied quantity of rutin, narirutin, and hesperidin.Considering the anti-melanogenic activity and human safety, CCE is considered as a potential anti-melanogenic agent and may be effective for topical application for treating hyperpigmentation disorders.

BACKGROUND: There are not many studies evaluating the effects of surface treatments at the molecular level. The aim of this in vitro study was to analyze the concentration of carbonate molecules in dental enamel by Raman spectroscopy after the application of in-office and home whitening agents. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Sixty human teeth were randomly divided into six groups and exposed to three different home bleaching gels (Day White) and three in-office whitening agents (Zoom! Whitespeed and PolaOffice) according to the manufacturer´s instructions. The concentration of carbonate molecules in enamel was measured prior to and during the treatment by means of Raman spectroscopy. Statistical analysis included repeated measures analysis of variance (p≤0.05) and Bonferroni pairwise comparisons. RESULTS: At home bleaching agents depicted a decrease in the carbonate molecule. This decrease was statistically significant for the bleaching gel with the highest hydrogen peroxide concentration (p≤0,05). In-office whitening agents caused an increase in carbonate, which was significant for all three groups (p≤0,05). CONCLUSIONS: In-office bleaching gels seem to cause a gain in carbonate of the enamel structure, whilst at-home whitening gels caused a loss in carbonate. Universidad de Costa Rica//UCR/Costa Rica UCR::Vicerrectoría de Docencia::Salud::Facultad de Odontología

With the public’s growing interest in skin whitening, lightening ingredients only used under dermatological supervision until recently, are more and more frequently incorporated into cosmetic formulas. The active agents that lighten skin tone are either natural or synthetic substances, and may act at various levels of melanogenesis. They are used to treat various skin pigmentation disorders or simply to obtain a lighter skin tone as whiter skin may be synonymous of wealth, health, youth, and/or beauty in different cultures. However, recent studies demonstrated the adverse effects of some of these ingredients, leading to their interdiction or restricted use under the European Directive and several other international regulations. After an overview of skin whitening practices and the associated risks, this article provides insight into the mechanisms involved in melanin synthesis and the biological assays available to attest the lightening activity of individual ingredients. The legislation dealing with the use of skin lighteners is then discussed. As traditional depigmenting agents such as hydroquinone and corticosteroids are of safety concern, the potential of natural extracts has been investigated more and more; finally, a synthesis of three years of research in our laboratory for such plant extracts will be given.

A simple method was developed for the analysis of seven stilbene-type fluorescent whitening agents (FWAs) in paper materials by ion-pair reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection. These stilbene-type FWAs included two disulfonate, two tetrasulfonate, and three hexasulfonate compounds. After optimization of chromatographic conditions, the FWAs were satisfactorily separated using a reversed-phase column (RP-18) with the following isocratic mobile phase: methanol-water (60:40) containing 17.5 mM TBABr and 10 mM citrate buffer (pH = 7.0). The calibration plot was linear in the range from 5 to 500 ng/mL for two disulfo-FWAs and from 1 to 500 ng/mL for the other five FWAs. Precision levels of the calibration curve as indicated by RSD of response factors were 1.2 and 8.1%. Limits of quantitation (LOQ) ranged from 1.2 to 11 ng/mL.

The efficiency of optical brightening agents (OBAs), also known as fluorescent whitening agents (FWAs), has long been of interest in the production of uncoated fine paper, particularly in uncoated fine paper grades containing high-yield pulp (HYP). The increasing levels of whiteness and also the increasing HYP substitution in fine papers has made OBA efficiency an important issue. This paper summarizes recent research findings in understanding and enhancing OBA efficiency in fine papers containing HYP, with focus on the main factors affecting OBA efficiency in both wet end and size press application. These factors include the base sheet brightness and whiteness of the pulp, UV competitors, OBA retention, quenching effects, and OBA migration at the size press. Some new technologies to improve OBA efficiency are discussed.

In this study, the CIE whiteness (CIE WI) and whiteness tint (Tw) of optically whitened (OWA) woven (plain and twill) polyester fabrics irradiated with xenon arc light were investigated. The fabrics were whitened in four concentrations using nine different commercial optical whitening agents, and were irradiated with xenon arc light under specific conditions between 0 and 100 h at 10-h intervals. The reflectance of the OWA fabrics was measured by using spectrophotometer, whereas the CIE WI and Tw values were calculated by using computer software. The results were investigated by statistical methods using analysis of variance and regression curves in which of the CIE WI of OWA polyester fabrics was found to decrease, while the Tw was also affected depending on irradiation time from the xenon arc light. (c) 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Col Res Appl, 2013, In this study, the CIE whiteness (CIE WI) and whiteness tint (Tw) of optically whitened (OWA) woven (plain and twill) polyester fabrics irradiated with xenon arc light were investigated. The fabrics were whitened in four concentrations using nine different commercial optical whitening agents, and were irradiated with xenon arc light under specific conditions between 0 and 100 h at 10-h intervals. The reflectance of the OWA fabrics was measured by using spectrophotometer, whereas the CIE WI and Tw values were calculated by using computer software. The results were investigated by statistical methods using analysis of variance and regression curves in which of the CIE WI of OWA polyester fabrics was found to decrease, while the Tw was also affected depending on irradiation time from the xenon arc light.

A low-cost portable fluorimeter was constructed using a 360 nm LED for excitation and a silicon photodiode for detection. The instrument is simple to operate and has been used to investigate fluorescent whitening agents extracted from various brands of paper, to determine the linear range and limit of detection of quinine in various commercial tonic water samples, and to quantify the amount of vitamin B1 in commercial multivitamin supplements. The instrument is straightforward to construct and to use and facilitates the introduction and hands-on application of spectroscopy, fluorescence, and related topics in middle school, high school, and undergraduate laboratory courses.

A three-dimensional ecological model(EMT-3D) was applied to DAS1 in Tokyo Bay. The simulated results of DAS1 were in good agreement with the observed values. The result of sensitivity analysis showed that photolysis coefficient and extinction coefficient were important factor for dissolved DAS1, and photolysis coefficient, extinction and POC partition coefficient for PAHs in particulate organic matter. Mass balance of DAS1 in Tokyo Bay was calculated by using the simulated results of EMT-3D.

Three derivatives of bis-styrybiphenyl with different degrees of sulfonation to be used as fluorescent whitening agents (FWAs) were synthesized. Studies on their spectroscopic properties were performed using a combination of computational methods. Whitening effects of FWAs and the improved thermal stability of polypropylene (PP) were investigated. The morphology of plastic samples was examined by scanning electronic microscopy (SEM). In order to improve the compatibility between FWA and PP, PP grafted with maleic anhydride (MAH) was applied as compatibilizer. The optical properties were further clarified by the results of frontier molecular orbital modeling, which show that the presence of sulfonic sodium group leads to a red shift of maximum UV absorption wavelength and a low HOMO–LUMO energy band gap. It is observed that the addition of 0.010 wt % of the sulfonated FWA would result in the expected whitening effect as well as improved PP thermal stability, while at or above 0.015 wt %, such effects worsen sharply owing to phase separation. Furthermore, the use of MAH-grafted PP as compatibilizer results in improvement of phase behavior and thermal stability. The study provides new insights into the effect of FWA structure on the properties of PP that are related to the whitening of the material.

Fluorescent whitening agents are widely used to increase the brightness and whiteness of printing paper. The fluorescence of these whitening agents is known to fall as a result of exposure to light, and the magnitude of the change has been documented in both accelerated fading tests and in exposure under more typical viewing conditions. In this study we exposed prints on optically brightened papers to narrow-band radiation at 350 nanometres, using a double monochromator. The change in spectral reflectance was found.

In this study, the CIE whiteness (CIE WI) and whiteness tint (Tw) of optically whitened woven or knitted cellulosic fabrics (cotton, viscose, modal and tencel) irradiated with xenon arc light was investigated. The fabrics were whitened with four concentrations of eight different commercial optical whitening agents and these fabrics were irradiated with xenon arc light under specific conditions between 0-100 hours at 10-hour intervals. The reflectance of the optical whitened fabrics was measured by using spectrophotometry, while CIE WI and the Tw values were calculated using computer software. The results were investigated by statistical methods using ANOVA and regression curves in which CIE WI of optically whitened cellulosic fabrics were found to decrease seriously depending on irradiation time and Tw was also affected by xenon arc light., In this study, the CIE whiteness (CIE WI) and whiteness tint (Tw) of optically whitened woven or knitted cellulosic fabrics (cotton, viscose, modal and tencel) irradiated with xenon arc light was investigated. The fabrics were whitened with four concentrations of eight different commercial optical whitening agents and these fabrics were irradiated with xenon arc light under specific conditions between 0—100 hours at 10-hour intervals. The reflectance of the optical whitened fabrics was measured by using spectrophotometry, while CIE WI and the Tw values were calculated using computer software. The results were investigated by statistical methods using ANOVA and regression curves in which CIE WI of optically whitened cellulosic fabrics were found to decrease seriously depending on irradiation time and Tw was also affected by xenon arc light.

The diffusion of chemical agents in dental tissues is of interest for many problems of dental tissue physiology (diffusion of liquor and water), dental healing (diffusion of preparations), and cosmetic dental treatment (diffusion of whitening agents). The water diffusion in samples of human dentin was monitored using optical coherent tomography (OCT). This diffusion manifests itself as a change in the slope and amplitude of the OCT signal from the sample. It is shown that the average dentin permeability with respect to water is (15.11 ± 21.73) × 10−6 cm/s. These experimental results demonstrate the OCT efficiency for studying the diffusion in hard biological tissues.

Inorganic mercury compound have been used for long time in cosmetics preparations for its skin lightening effect. The used of mercury in cosmetics has been prohibited as stipulated in the decision of the BPOM RI (Head of the Food and Drug Supervisory Agency) No.HK.00.01.432.6147. Based on health department research from various countries, there are a number of skin lightening products containing mercury between 660-57.000 μg/kg. People needs a quick and easy way to detect mercury in a lightening cream, so that people can test the safety of cream that used. One alternative that can be used to detect mercury in skin lightening cosmetics is using detecting reagents. The aim of this study was preparation of specific and sensitive mercury detecting reagents. The detecting reagents consisted mixtures of diphenylcarbazone and acetic acid in 96% of ethanol. The specificity test is performed by adding diphenylcarbazone solution into a lightening cream containing whitening agents such as mercury, hydroquinone, bangkuang extract and mixture of these substances. Assay was also performed on simulated cream that contained mercury, zinc oxide, bismuthsubnitrate, and mixture of mercury, zinc oxide and bismuthsubnitrate. The mercury detecting reagents gives a distinctive result that shown by the formation of purple mercury complex in less than 3 minutes.

Disodium 4,4 -bis-(1,3,5-triazinylamino)stilbene-2,2 -disulfonate derivatives were synthesized by reacting 4,4 diaminostilbene-2,2 -disulfonic acid with 2,4,6-trichloro-1,3,5-triazine. The resulting dichloro-sym-triazinyl intermediate was further condensed in two steps with amines by nucleophilic substitutions reaction on their triazine moiety to furnish the fluorescent brighteners. The structures of these compounds were characterized by using spectroscopic techniques i.e., 1 H-NMR, FT-IR, UV and elemental analysis. These compounds were used as whitening agents of 100% cotton fiber and their performance was evaluated by light fastness, chlorinated water fastness, washing fastness and CIE whiteness measurements.

The utilization of recovered paper for high-grade paper such as printing, communication, and tissue papers has been limited because using recovered paper tends to reduce the quality of these papers. Therefore, despite an increasing recovery rate, the wastepaper utilization rate in Japan was still only 61.8% in 2008. In Japan, the regulations of the "Law Concerning the Promotion of Procurement of Eco-Friendly Goods and Services by the State and Other Entities" were strengthened in 2009 to counteract the practice exposed in the so-called "Wastepaper Camouflage Scandal". In order to assess the wastepaper pulp content in recycled paper, a new method using a fluorescence microscope is developed. As fluorescent whitening agents are commonly used to enhance the whiteness and brightness of paper, most recovered printing paper contains fluorescent whitening agents. Both visual observation and image analysis techniques were investigated to differentiate between virgin and wastepaper pulp fibers. Recycled handsheets were prepared to establish the fluorescence observation technique for evaluating the wastepaper content. More than 1,200 fibers should be counted to accurately determine the wastepaper content by this technique. The results obtained by the visual observation technique agree with image analysis of the recycled handsheets. The actual precision of the quantitative wastepaper pulp fiber analysis by the fluorescence observation technique depends on the wastepaper pulp content and the amount of fluorescent whitening agent in the recycled-content paper.

A simple and rapid method was developed to simultaneously determine four stilbene-type disulfonate and one distyrylbiphenyl-type fluorescent whitening agents (FWAs) in infant clothes and paper materials by ion-pair chromatography. FWAs were extracted from cloth and papers samples using a hot-water extraction. The aqueous extract was then mixed with ion-pair reagent, extracted with C 18 -SPE cartridges and eluted with methanol. The contents of FWAs were determined by an isocratic ion-pair chromatography with RP-C 18 column and equipped with fluorescence detection. Limits of quantitation were 0.04 to 0.45 ng/g in 10 g of samples. Recovery of FWAs in spiked infant cloth and paper samples was between 76 to 92% and precision (RSD) ranging from 2.0 to 4.0%. Analysis of three infant clothes and six paper materials found concentrations of selected FWAs ranging between n.d. to 24 μg/g and n.d. to 3.8 μg/g, respectively.

Seven new blue-emitting triazine derivatives of 2-aminoterephthalic acid were synthesised, two of which contained a polymerisable group, one a stabiliser fragment and two containing both a polymerisable group and a stabliser fragment. The synthesised compounds were characterised by analytical methods. The ability of four of the derivatives to copolymerise with methylmethacrylate was demonstrated, thus they can be used for obtaining polymers with a whiteness and fluorescence stable to solvents. Two of the compounds, containing a combination of a stabiliser fragment and a polymerisable group, can be used for ‘one-step’ stabilisation and whitening of polymer materials. All the compounds, possessing an intense blueish fluorescence, are suitable as fluorescent whitening agents for textiles.

Tooth discoloration is commonly found in the dental clinic and tooth bleaching has been considered the preferred esthetic alternative, being more conservative, safe and with predictable results. Supervised home-use of 10% Carbamide Peroxide (CP) bleaching with custom-trays is the most common bleaching procedure dispensed by dentists to their patients. The good results obtained with this technique stimulated the flourishing of new products and techniques. Over-the-counter (OTC) bleaching products appeared as a low-cost alternative to bleach discolored teeth without dentist supervision. Different OTC products are available in supermarkets, drug stores or on the Internet, including rinses, paint-on brushes, toothpastes, chewing guns, dental floss, and whitening strips. There is lack of clinical evidence regarding the safety and effectiveness of these products, being most of the studies supported by the manufacturers'. Basically, toothpastes, chewing gums, and dental floss are removal agents of superficial stains. Rinses and paint-on brushes with low levels of hydrogen peroxide have some whitening effect, but without clinical relevance. Strips present similar esthetic results and side-effects, compared to bleaching with 10% CP using trays; however, the studies have financial support from the manufacturers and were based on short term evaluations. Legislation varies widely in different countries regarding OTC dental bleaching. Concerns have appeared due to the potential abusive use of these self-medication agents, especially in young patients, with potential harmful results. Dentists should be acquainted with this kind of products to be able to inform their patients. In conclusion, there is a need for independent clinical trials to provide sufficient evidence regarding the use of OTC bleaching products.

This review article highlights progress in understanding the optical properties of paper. Paper’s appearance can be defined in terms of its opacity, brightness, color, fluorescent properties, gloss, and various quantities related to its uniformity. The phenomena that give rise to paper’s optical properties, especially its ability to scatter and absorb visible light, are highly dependent on paper’s structure and its chemical composition. In an effort to engineer low-cost products having relative high opacity and brightness, it is necessary to optimize the material selection and processing conditions. The dimensions of solid materials and void structures within the paper are key factors for optimizing the optical properties. In addition, additives including bleaching agents, mineral particles, dyes, and fluorescent whitening agents can impact paper’s optical properties Paper’s appearance depends, in subtle ways, on the processes of its manufacture.

紙を白く見せるため日常的に蛍光染料（蛍光増白剤）が使用されているが，食品添加物としての認可を受けていない蛍光染料は合成着色料の一種として扱われ，食品用器具・容器包装への使用は規制を受ける。検査法は昭和46年5月8日に出された環食第244号である。04年1月7日付けの厚生労働省課長通知で染着pHや判定するための参考事例として蛍光発色の写真が添付されるなどの改善が施され，現在も微アルカリ水で器具・容器包装からの蛍光染料の溶出を調べる検査が行われている。一方，米国，ドイツでは蛍光増白剤の使用が認められており，用途による使用規制が行われている。そのための検査法としてドイツ，EUではEN648法が定められているが，環食第244号法との大きな違いは使用用途が考慮され，乾燥食品が検査対象外となっていることである。我々は海外の動向を踏まえ，安全性が十分に確保され，また海外の規制とも調和がとれた検査法について検討を行った。環食第244号とEN648法の比較検討の結果，環食第244号法では蛍光染料のヘキサ体蛍光染料が検出できない可能性があることがわかった。この問題を解決するため，EN648法をベースに化成品工業協会標準蛍光染料を標準蛍光染料として用い，操作等についても一部変更を加えた修正法を作成した。この方法によれば使用実態に即した食品分類別にきめ細かく対応できると同時に環食第244号法では検出しにくいヘキサ体蛍光染料も検出でき，より安全性を確保できると考えられる。

While dental whitening or dental bleaching is one of the most popular aesthetic procedures, dentists should base their decision to prescribe peroxide-based whitening agents on evidence-based techniques and regimens. The contact of bleaching products with the mucosa, dental tissues, and preexisting restorations may trigger a series of adverse effects both on soft and hard tissues. This chapter details the precautions that must be taken prior to prescribing different bleaching therapies with the goal of improving the patient’s smile, without damaging oral tissues. Additionally, this chapter will discuss tooth sensitivity, which is the most common side effect of any bleaching treatment. The prevention of tooth sensitivity is of upmost importance to avoid discomfort to patients and increase patient’s compliance.

Optical brightening agents (OBA) or fluorescent whitening agents (FWA) are commonly used in the paper industry to improve the optical performance of paper products. The increased use of bleached chemi‐thermo‐mechanical pulp (BCTMP) or high‐yield pulp (HYP) in printing and writing paper grades has initiated research topics on the brightening efficiency of OBA on mechanical pulp‐containing furnishes. In this study, process parameters that may affect the retention of OBA were investigated, such as furnish composition, OBA charge, contacting time, water hardness, anionic trash, and fines in HYP. It was found that OBA had lower retention on HYP fibers than on bleached kraft pulp (BKP) fibers. Efforts were also made to understand the underlying mechanism.

In today’s society, it seems everything needs to be faster. As a result some practitioners are using whitening products with higher concentrations of the active ingredient in an attempt to provide faster whitening. Do they whiten faster, and if so, does it result in more sensitivity? This article reviews four studies to explore these two questions.

The paper looks at the development of the heavy duty liquid detergent segment and its influence on FWA (Fluorescent Whitening Agents) formulation and performance characteristics such as processability, compatibility, stability and spotting

Distributions of fluorescent whitening agents (FWAs) in the waters of a small river system in Japan were surveyed in summer when the water volume rose following high precipitation and in winter when it subsided as precipitation declined. The main source of FWAs in the river system was domestic wastewater, and fluxes in the tributaries depended on the size of the residential population and the elimination rates of sewage treatment systems in their catchments, although FWA concentrations in the river itself fluctuated, largely as a consequence of dilution by heavy precipitation and unstable water flows in the small-sized river system. The FWA concentrations in the river waterduring summer decreased not only by the dilution of river water but also by photodegradation because of more prolonged exposure to sunlight.

The inhibition of tyrosinase has attracted considerable attention for potential medicinal and cosmetic applications, as well as in agriculture. This study investigated the inhibition effects of thiol-associated Cu(2+) chelators and deduced a strategy for designing and/or selecting tyrosinase inhibitors. Among the several compounds tested, dithioglycerine (DTGC) was selected for further experiments on the inhibition kinetics on tyrosinase. Different types of tyrosinases derived from mushroom and from the transient overexpression in HEK293 cells were tested individually. The results showed that DTGC significantly inhibited human tyrosinase in a complex manner (slope-parabolic mixed-type inhibition), which was comparable to mushroom tyrosinase. The affinity of DTGC affinity to human tyrosinase was evaluated by setting up a K(i slope) equation. The results suggest that a Cu(2+) chelator modified with thiol groups has potential as a whitening agent. In addition, a strategy for designing and/or selecting tyrosinase inhibitors that target the active enzyme site was also suggested.

Two kinds of stilbene-type fluorescent whitening agents (FWAs:i.e., DSBP and DAS1), which are minor components of laundry detergents, were analyzed in water column and surface sediments of Tokyo Bay and adjacent rivers to evaluate their utility as anthropogenic molecular markers for estimating the transport processes of sediment particles in the coastal zone. DSBP and DAS1 were widely distributed in Tokyo Bay sediments at concentrations ranging from 0.01 to 1.85 μg/g and 0.02 to 0.37 μg/g, respectively. The concentration ratio of DSBP to DAS1 (the DSBP/DAS1 ratio) of suspended particles in surface layers decreased from estuaries (∼3) to Tokyo Bay (

Dynamics and optical nature of fluorescent dissolved organic matter (FDOM) were investigated in two rivers (Kurose and Ohta) in Hiroshima prefecture, Japan during 2002-2003, by measuring dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and three-dimensional excitation emission matrix fluorescence (3-D EEM). In monthly collected samples, DOC varied from 43 to 146 μM C at upstream sites in both rivers, and from 130 to 349 μM C and from 45 to 164 μM C in Kurose and Ohta downstream, respectively. The 3-D EEM of FDOM in the river waters identified three characteristic peaks, indicating the occurrence of fulvic acids (peak F), fluorescent whitening agents (peak W), and protein-like substances (peak T). The upstream FDOM in the both river waters and the downstream FDOM in the Ohta river contained the peaks F and T, identified by comparing with that of the Suwannee River Fulvic Acid (SRFA) and tryptophan and their photo-irradiated standards. The 3-D EEM of FDOM in Kurose downstream waters, however, contained the peaks W and T. The ratio of fluorescence intensity for peak F or W to DOC (FI/DOC-index) was estimated to be high (2.00 ± 0.51 to 2.09 ± 0.38 QSU (quinine sulphate unit)/μM C) at Kurose downstream compared to Ohta rivers (0.73 ± 0.35 to 0.74 ± 0.38 QSU/μM C) and to the Kurose River upstream (0.55 ± 0.22 to 0.65 ± 0.21 QSU/μM C), and the absolute FI values were several times higher in Kurose downstream waters than Kurose upstream and Ohta river waters. Moreover, the studies on the photo irradiation experiments of the standard FDOMs indicated that the peak W is easily photo-decomposed while the peak F appears to be photo-resistant. These results indicate that the chemical properties of FDOM in the Kurose downstream waters are different from those in the Kurose upstream and Ohta river waters.

Water samples were collected from 24 monitoring points in three rivers, Sasagase, Kurashiki and Kamo Rivers, flowing into L. Kojima, Japan bimonthly, from February 2001 to December 2002. Chemical oxygen demand (CODMn) was measured in each sample and/or filtrate. The CODMn of the sample (t-COD) was used as an index of total organic matter and that of the filtrate (d-COD) was used as an index for dissolved organic matter (DOM). The difference (p-COD) between t-COD and d-COD was used for determining particulate organic matter. Approximately 80 % of t-COD was d-COD as an average of the entire monitoring point. Each d-COD was closely related to the intensity of the fluorescence peak that appeared at EX 300-350 nm/EM 400-450 nm in the fluorescence excitation matrix (EEM). Therefore, the main component of DOM seemed to be fulvic. However, it was suggested that the EEM spectra of the point affected by domestic wastewater was associated with fluorescence whitening agents. On the other hand, p-COD was related to the concentration of chlorophyll a, and was higher at the point having occasionally long residence time. Therefore, each monitoring point had its particular factor for an enhancing t-COD.

紙を白く見せるために日常的に蛍光物質 (蛍光増白剤=蛍光染料) が使用されているが, 食品衛生法の食品添加物としての認可を受けていない蛍光増白剤は, 合成着色料の一種として規制され, 検査法としては昭和46年5月8日付厚生省課長通知環食第244号「蛍光物質を使用した器具または容器包装の検査法について」が定められ運用されてきた。02年12月に保健所の検査でタイ製の紙製ビーフントレー (意図的に原紙, 塗工層に蛍光増白剤を添加と推定) より蛍光増白剤の溶出が確認され, 食品の回収命令が出たのが発端となり, 03年7月には蛍光増白剤を意図的に使用していない紙製トレー (古紙配合品) でも回収指導を受ける事態が発生した。このままでは古紙配合製品すべて (白板紙のみならずライナー, 段ボールまで) が回収対象となり, 関係業界を巻き込む大問題に発展する恐れが出てきた。一方, 公定法にもかかわらず指定検査機関間で異なる判定結果となることもわかった。今回, この蛍光物質溶出検査法 (環食第244号) の問題点を抽出し, その原因を明らかにし, この結果をもとに, 日本製紙連合会から厚生労働省に検査法の見直しを03年11月9日に申し入れ, 異例とも言える速さで04年1月7日付厚生労働省課長通知 (食安基発第0107001号・食安監発第0107001号) で検査法が見直され, 判定基準も写真で実例が示されることにより, 古紙配合製品も概ね使用できる見通しとなった。ここまでの経緯と海外の規制状況もあわせて紹介する。

Background and Objectives Bleaching techniques achieved significant advances with the use of coherent or incoherent radiation sources to activate the bleaching agents. This in vitro study compares the whitening efficacy of LED and diode laser irradiation using the two agents Opalescence X-tra and HP Whiteness. Study Design/Materials and Methods A total of 60 bovine incisors were randomly divided into six groups, three for each bleaching agent, receiving only agent, agent and LED (wavelength 470 nm), agent and 1.6 W diode laser (808 nm). The results of the irradiations were characterized using the CIEL*a*b* system. Results Significant differences in the chroma value are obtained for the two whitening agents and for the different light sources. In terms of lightness, the association of Laser and Whiteness HP bleaching gel showed significantly better results than when the same agent was used alone or in combination with LED. Conclusions Best overall results are obtained with the Whiteness HP and Laser association. Lasers Surg. Med. 35:254–258, 2004. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Summary The effect of different concentrations of the whitening agents, calcium carbonate, titanium dioxide and soybean oil, on the gel-forming ability and whiteness of a mixture of bigeye snapper and mackerel surimi was investigated. The whiteness of the surimi gels increased as the concentration of all whitening agents increased (P

Fluorescence spectrometric analysis, on which attention is increasingly focused as a method to measure dissolved organic matter in river water, was conducted using corrected fluorescence excitation and emission spectra.The authors found that fluorescence from a fluorescence whitening agents (FWA) contained in household detergents is overlaps with fluorescence emitted by fulvic-like organic matter, which is the most characteristic fluorescent organic matter in river water, by decreasing the fluorescence intensity due to sunlight irradiation and comparison with the excitation spectrum. Excitation spectra at emission wavelength (λem) of 430nm were analyzed with the fluorescence intensity at excitation wavelengths (λex) of 320nm, 345nm and 360nm of [DSBP], which was used as the reference material, to determine fluorescence emitted by the fulvic-like organic matter and FWA, respectively. As a result, a strong positive correlation was shown between the fluorescence derived from fulvic-like organic matter (λex : 320nm, λem : 430nm) and [DOC]. Fluorescence excitation spectrometric analysis was useful to evaluating that fulvic-like organic matter is discharged from anthropogenic sources.

Identifying the source of faecal pollution is important to enable appropriate management of faecal pollution of water. Four independent assays for faecal source discrimination have been developed and implemented in our lab. These assays detect fluorescent whitening agents, faecal sterols, Bifidobacterium adolescentis and Rhodococcus coprophilus. The combination of these indicators is able to identify human derived faecal pollution in rivers containing inputs from septic tanks, municipal oxidation ponds, farmed animals and feral animals.

Both human and non‐human faecal contamination of environmental waters pose a risk to human health that can be reduced if the source can be identified and responsibility for mitigation accepted. Traditional microbiological indicators are rarely adequate for source identification but some chemical indicators offer promise. In this work, the similarities and differences of selected chemical profiles of different faecal effluent types have been modelled using classification and regression tree (CART) analysis. Human effluents can be distinguished from non‐human effluents by the presence of fluorescent whitening agents, and the concentrations or ratios of concentrations of the faecal stanols coprostanol and 24‐ethylcoprostanol can distinguish most of the non‐human effluent types considered. To allow for the effect of variable dilution when effluents enter environmental waters, ratios of concentrations will be required to establish a model, and a model more complex than CART will be required to apporti...

Natural material extracts are presently used as cosmetic ingredients. Their physiological effects were examined using estragole isolated from the essential oil of Foeniculum vulgare Miller as starting materials. Thirty derivatives were synthesized by condensation using ten thiols. The derivatives were examined for potential use as whitening agents possessing tyrosinase activity and superoxide dismutase. Derivative compounds were found good inhibitors of tyrosinase.

Optical brightening agents (OBAs) or fluorescent whitening agents (FWAs) are often used additives in paper and board products as they improve both whiteness and brightness of the products. When printed, OBAs can even contribute to colour tone reproduction. Fluorescent emissions of OBAs depend on the UV content of the illuminant (light source). Adequate adjustment (control or adjustment) of UV content of measurement apparatus (e.g. spectrophotometer) is essential for accurate colour measurement and printing colour reproduction. We proposed a method to adjust the UV content against assigned spectra rather than, as adopted in current ISO standards, against single assigned values. Demonstrations of applying this method to the CIE standard illuminants used in papermaking and graphic industries, D65, C and D50 have been given. Thanks to the well-established traceability of reference standards (IRs), the UV contents of a spectrophotometer corresponding to the standard CIE illuminants have been achieved.

Tyrosinase inhibitors could have a huge importance in medicine, cosmetics and agriculture. Although many tyrosinase inhibitors are available, they have demonstrated only mild efficacy and safety concerns. This has led to the discovery of novel tyrosinase inhibitors that are more safe, potent and efficacious.The authors provide an overview of the recent scientific accounts describing the design of new molecules. These compounds belong to different chemical families. The review emphasizes the rationale behind the discovery, the study of structure-activity relationships, the study of the mechanism and kinetic of inhibition and the cellular effect of the inhibitors. The article is based on the literature published from 2007 onward related with the development of synthetic tyrosinase inhibitors.Although a great number of tyrosinase inhibitors have been published in the literature, none, as of yet, have reached the potency and safety requirements needed to enter clinical trials. The emergence of new in vitro and in vivo tests will finally allow the arrival of new compounds that are more potent and safe.

Dentifrices with different compositions are available on the market, but there is limited information about their properties. The aim of this in vitro study was to evaluate the physicochemical characteristics of 12 dentifrices divided into three categories, as containing desensitizing agents, Triclosan or whitening agents. Desiccation loss/residue analysis: 5 g of dentifrice was weighed five times for each group. pH analysis: 5 g of dentifrice were diluted in three parts of distilled water and analyzed using a digital potentiometer. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM): analysis of ashes, shape and size of the particles. Energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDX): identification of the abrasive elements. Data were analyzed using ANOVA, Bonferroni post hoc test (α=0.05). Desiccation loss: 38.21% to 65.83%. Dentifrices containing Triclosan and desensitizing agents showed statistically significant differences among them (p

International audience; Fluorescent whitening agents (FWAs) are highly soluble and poorly biodegradable ingredients used in laundry detergents and in industries (paper, textile, plastic manufacturing). They are likely to pass through biological wastewater treatment systems. The presence of FWAs in a mountain river was detected by monitoring the decay of synchronous fluorescence intensity at gimel(ex) = 360 nm after exposing samples to ultraviolet (UV) light (365 nm), for mimicking sunlight, for 15 min. The method was first validated on four commercial FWAs (DAS-1, FB28, DMA-X and CBS-X) in different water matrices (deionized water and pristine river water in the presence of humic acid and dyes). A 40% decay was observed after 15 min for the least photosensitive FWA (CBS-X). A field application was then performed on samples collected along a mountain river in which impacts of FWAs from domestic sources (laundry greywater) and industrial sources (paper and textile mills) were suspected. Variations of fluorescence decay at gimel(ex) = 360 nm could be explained by these potential sources of pollution. It is suggested that the fluorescence decay at gimel(ex) = 280 nm also be considered as an indicator, as some FWAs can exhibit fluorescence at that excitation wavelength.

From p-toluic acid, a series of polymeric fluorescent whitening agents (FWA) was synthesized. In the paper are given the details for the synthesis of the FWA and their intermediates. The products are water-dispersible or water-soluble, have good affinity with hydrophobic fabrics, affect the soil-releasing effect on polyester, soiled or aged cotton fabrics, and can be incorporated into concentrated fabric conditioner, a product type using FWA that is being developed. Polymeric FWA add excellent brightness to polyester and soiled or aged cotton for which the usual anionic FWA have little effect.

The rapid development and application of biosensors is likely to have considerable impact on livestock management. Biosensors are considered to be analytical devices incorporating a biological material, or a biologically derived material intimately associated with or integrated within a physicochemical transducer or transducing microsystem. For livestock production it is useful to consider where sensors may be used effectively. These may include monitoring of the living environment to ensure that adequate hygiene and animal welfare are maintained, waste management, monitoring of the metabolic state of the livestock so that adequate intake of nutrients is maintained, detection of oestrus or other conditions, monitoring for bacterial or viral infections, both in live animals, and during the processing of animal products. For animal welfare, biosensors are needed to measure biological effects e.g. genotoxicity, immunotoxicity, biotoxins and endocrine effects. The concentrations of specific analytes that are difficult to detect are important contaminants of water, waste, soil or air (e.g. surfactants, chlorinated hydrocarbons, sulphophenyl carboxylates, sulphonated dyes, fluorescent whitening agents, napthalensulphonates, carboxylic acids, dioxins, pesticide metabolites etc). The development of practical biosensing systems capable of operation under realistic conditions is discussed.

Background Vital tooth bleaching for esthetic reasons has gained in popularity during the last few years. However, few studies have investigated the efficacy of daytime bleaching products. The purpose of this double-blind in vivo study was to evaluate the efficacy of 20 percent carbamide peroxide, or CP, and 7.5 percent hydrogen peroxide, or HP, during daytime use. The degree of color change, any color relapse, and tooth or gingival sensitivity were evaluated. Methods Twenty-four patients participated in this study. The bleaching gels were randomly applied to the right and left maxillary anterior teeth. Patients were shown how to place the two bleaching agents in a custom tray for one hour, twice a day for two weeks. Patients returned in one, two, three, six and 12 weeks for color evaluation with the colorimeter and shade guides as well as to have color slide photographs taken. The authors evaluated sensitivity by asking the patients to record daily for 21 days any tooth or gingival sensitivity they experienced. Results Use of the 20 percent CP resulted in significantly more lightness than the 7.5 percent HP during the first 14 days of the study, but at the end of the study, there was no significant difference between products with regard to tooth lightness. In addition, the authors found no statistically significant difference between products with regard to gingival or tooth sensitivity. Conclusions Both CP and HP are effective at-home bleaching agents when daytime bleaching is preferred. Clinical Implications Dentists who choose to use daytime bleaching can select either CP or HP.

Several studies have shown a reduction in enamel bond strengths when the bonding procedure is carried out immediately after vital bleaching with peroxides. This reduction in bond strengths has become a concern in cosmetic dentistry with the introduction of new "in-office" and "waiting-room" bleaching techniques. The aim of this in vitro study was to evaluate the effect of three bleaching regimens: 35% hydrogen peroxide (HP), 35% carbamide peroxide (CP), and 10% CP, on dentin bond strengths.One hundred and twenty fresh bovine incisors were used in this study. The labial surface of each tooth was ground flat to expose dentin and was subsequently polished with 600-grit wet silicon carbide paper. The remaining dentin thickness was monitored and kept at an average of 2 mm. The teeth were randomly assigned to four bleaching regimens (n = 30): (A) control, no bleaching treatment; (B) 35% HP for 30 minutes; (C) 35% CP for 30 minutes; and (D) 10% CP for 6 hours. For each group, half of the specimens (n = 15) were bonded with Single Bond/Z100 immediately after the bleaching treatment, whereas the other half was bonded after the specimens were stored for 1 week in artificial saliva at 37 degrees C. The specimens were fractured in shear using an Instron machine.For the groups bonded immediately after bleaching, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by the Duncan's post hoc test revealed a statistically significant reduction in bond strengths in a range from 71% to 76%. For the groups bonded at 1 week, one-way ANOVA showed that group B (35% HP for 30 min) resulted in the highest bond strengths, whereas 10% CP resulted in the lowest bond strengths. Student's t-test showed that delayed bonding resulted in a significant increase in bond strengths for groups B (35% HP) and C (35% CP); whereas the group bleached with 10% CP (group D) remained in the same range obtained for immediate bonding. Storage in artificial saliva also affected the control group, reducing its bond strengths to 53% of the original.

In the early twentieth century a class of chemicals was identified that could increase whitening by the action of fluorescence. These materials, often called colourless dyes, are known as fluorescent whitening agents, optical bleaches or' optical brighteners. Optical brighteners are a group of molecules that absorb light predominantly in the ultraviolet range and emit light in the visible range, thereby causing a brightening of the substrate by emitting more than 100% of the incident visible light. These materials were first used in food packaging and X-ray film enclosures to prevent deterioration caused by ultraviolet light. Soon their whitening properties were exploited and brighteners were added to numerous commercial materials, fostering a taste for ‘whiter than white’ papers, textiles and non-yellowing plastics. In the conservation and preservation of works of art and cultural property, the behaviour and aging of optical brighteners play an important role, particularly in works from the secon...