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Research article

Risk perception and use of personal care products by race and ethnicity among a diverse population

Authors
  • Julia Mandeville orcid logo (George Mason University, Fairfax, VA)
  • Zeina Alkhalaf (George Mason University, Fairfax, VA)
  • Charlotte Joannidis (George Mason University, Fairfax, VA)
  • Michelle Ryan (George Mason University, Fairfax, VA)
  • Devon Nelson (George Mason University, Fairfax, VA)
  • Lesliam Quiros-Alcala orcid logo (Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD)
  • Matthew O Gribble orcid logo (University of California, San Francisco, CA)
  • Anna Z Pollack orcid logo (George Mason University, Fairfax, VA)

This is version 1 of this article, the published version can be found at: https://doi.org/10.14324/111.444/ucloe.3038

Abstract

Personal care products can contain phthalates, parabens and other endocrine-disrupting chemicals. However, information on perception of risks from personal care product use and how use varies by race and ethnicity is limited. We evaluated differences in personal care product use and risk perception in a diverse sample of participants recruited from a US college campus and online. A self-administered questionnaire captured information on sociodemographic factors, personal care product use trends and perception of risk associated with them. Pearson’s chi-square and Fisher’s exact tests were used to determine differences in personal care product use and risk perception by race and ethnicity. Ordered logistic regressions were performed to measure associations between personal care product use frequency across racial/ethnic categories. Participant (n = 770) mean age was 22.8 years [standard deviation ± 6.0]. Daily use of make-up (eye = 29.3%; other = 38.0%; all = 33.7%) and skincare products (55%) was most frequently reported among Middle Eastern and North African participants. Non-Hispanic Black participants reported the highest daily use of hairstyling products (52%) and lotion (78%). Daily make-up use was more frequently reported among females (41%) than males (24.6%). Levels of agreement were similar across racial and ethnic groups, that personal care product manufacturers should be required to list all ingredients (≥87%). There were significant associations between the frequency of use of some personal care products and racial/ethnic categories when the use frequencies of participants from other racial/ethnic categories were compared to the use frequency of non-Hispanic White participants. There were significant differences in daily use frequency, levels of trust, perception of safety and health risks associated with personal care products by race and ethnicity, underscoring that there may be different sources of exposure to chemicals in personal care products by race and ethnicity.

Keywords: personal care products, diversity, perception of safety, risk perception, use frequency, race and ethnicity, people and the environment, health

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Published on
13 May 2024
Peer Reviewed
License
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0

 Open peer review from Xingzuo Zhuo

Review
The manuscript investigates the perception of risk and usage of personal care products (PCP) across diverse racial and ethnic populations. It applies a survey-based approach to gather data on individual perceptions and practices regarding PCP use, focusing on how these vary among different racial and ethnic groups. The study aims to uncover patterns and influences that drive PCP choices and risk awareness, providing insights into behavioural differences influenced by cultural and societal factors. This research contributes to a better understanding of consumer behaviour in the context of personal care and health risk awareness.

I recommend Accept with minor revision.

1. What is the sample size in adjusted regressions in Table 4? I believe missing data exists, according to Table 1. Please also further discuss missing data and the representativeness of your data.

2. Please mention potential confounding factors that you considered in the Method section, particularly for the regression models. e.g., are they not included due to further ethical approval required? It is not sufficient to state it with one sentence in discussion (Finally, in this study, we did not capture or measure the socioeconomic status of the respondents).

3. Please limit your conclusions to the "young adults" setting. e.g., There were significant differences in daily use frequency, levels of trust, perception of safety, and health risks associated with PCPs by race and ethnicity among young adults.

Note:
This review refers to round of peer review and may pertain to an earlier version of the document.