Wednesday, November 19
9:00 am - 10:20 am
PFAS Contaminants in Feminine Hygiene Products
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are widely used for their water- and oil-repellent properties, resulting in their pervasive presence in the environment and finished consumer products. Recent medical research highlights significant health risks associated with PFAS exposure in humans and animals, including through transdermal absorption. Global regulatory efforts, advocacy from industry associations such as INDA and EDANA, and initiatives by individual brands have driven progress toward reducing or eliminating PFAS in absorbent hygiene products (AHP). A 2023 study, analyzing menstrual products from 2020–2022, detected PFAS in nearly half of the samples. New data examining the layers of construction in these products pinpoint potential contamination points in the supply chain. The discussion covers the success of PFAS reduction efforts, key risks associated with contamination, the difference between “tested” and “certified” PFAS-free product claims, and findings from the latest construction-layer analysis.
» Chris Hudalla, Ph.D.
President/Chief Scientific Officer, ProVerde Labs
BIOGRAPHY
Dr. Christopher Hudalla is a Ph.D. analytical chemist with over 35 years of experience in academic and industrial analytical chemistry, specializing in spectroscopy and chromatographic method development. He is recognized globally as an expert in traditional Reverse Phase Liquid and Supercritical Fluid Chromatography.In his role, Dr. Hudalla is instrumental in helping clients across various industries analyze products and formulations for the presence or absence of PFAS materials. He earned both his M.S. and Ph.D. from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and completed a Postdoctoral Fellowship at the Eppley Institute for Cancer Research at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. An accomplished speaker, Dr. Hudalla has presented worldwide on topics including analytical testing and extraction. He is actively involved in numerous scientific organizations, contributing to the development and standardization of testing methodologies to ensure consumer safety.
