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In daily life, many products we come into contact with, from cosmetics to medicines, from food to industrial products, may contain a substance called polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP for short). It is like an invisible "all-rounder" and is widely present in various commodities. However, as people's health awareness increases, questions about whether polyvinyl pyrrolidone is harmful to the body are increasing.
Table of contents
● What is polyvinyl pyrrolidone?
●Widely used in many fields
(1) Medical field
(2) Cosmetic field
(3) Food field
(4) Other fields
●Safety controversy and authoritative opinions
●Possible effects on the body
(1) Allergic reaction
(2) Inhalation risk
(3) Cumulative risk
(4) Risks for special populations
●Correct view and use
What is polyvinyl pyrrolidone?
Polyvinyl Pyrrolidone Pvp is a non-ionic polymer compound, which is polymerized from N-vinylpyrrolidone (NVP). It is a white to light yellow amorphous deliquescent powder, which is hydrophilic, easy to flow and has a slight odor. Its average molecular weight ranges from 8000 to 700000, and the specific value depends on the specifications and use of the product. Its density is 1.144g/cm³, its melting point is 130℃, its boiling point is 217.6℃, and its flash point is 93.9℃. It is highly soluble in water and halogenated hydrocarbon solvents, alcohols, amines, nitroalkanes and low molecular weight fatty acids, but is insoluble in a few solvents such as acetone, ether, turpentine, aliphatic hydrocarbons and alicyclic hydrocarbons, and is compatible with most inorganic acid salts and a variety of resins. At room temperature and pressure, polyvinylpyrrolidone is stable, but it must be avoided from light, open flames and high temperatures.
1.Pharmaceutical field
In the pharmaceutical industry, polyvinyl pyrrolidone can be said to be "showing its prowess". It is often used as a drug carrier. With its good solubility and plasticity, it is suitable for oral preparations, injections, eye drops and external medicines. It can be used as a thickener, dispersant and solvent to evenly disperse drugs and increase the solubility and bioavailability of drugs. For example, in some oral tablets, it can help drugs to form better, ensure that the drugs are slowly released in the body, and prolong the efficacy. In some injections, it can stabilize the drug ingredients and prevent the drugs from precipitating or deteriorating.
2.Cosmetic field
Walking into the cosmetics counter, polyvinyl pyrrolidone is also present in many products. It can be used as a thickener to increase the viscosity and consistency of the product, making the product easier to use and apply. For example, some creams and lotions add it to improve the texture. It can also be used as an oil control agent to absorb and reduce the oil secretion on the skin surface, keeping the skin fresh. It is a common ingredient in cosmetics for oily skin. In lipstick and nail polish, it acts as a thickener and gelling agent, improving the texture of the product, making lipstick smoother to apply and nail polish less likely to fall off.
3.Food field
In the food industry, polyvinyl pyrrolidone plays an important role as a safe food additive. It can improve the taste, texture and stability of food. For example, in some beverages, it can prevent precipitation and keep the beverage clear and uniform; in baked goods, it can improve the processing performance of dough, make the baked bread, cakes, etc. taste better, and extend the shelf life of food.
4.Other fields
In the textile printing and dyeing industry, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, as a polymer surfactant, has excellent dispersion stability and solubilization effect, which can help dyes better adhere to fabrics and improve dyeing effects. In pigments and coatings, it acts as a viscosity controller and dispersant to improve the coloring effect of pigments and the leveling of coatings, making the pigments more colorful and the coatings more evenly applied. In the petroleum industry, it can be used as a pour point depressant and drag reducer to improve the fluidity and stability of petroleum products and facilitate the extraction and transportation of petroleum.
Safety controversy and authoritative opinions
The safety of Polyvinylpyrrolidone Copolymer has always been controversial. On the one hand, some studies have pointed out that high molecular weight PVP may accumulate in the body and cause some adverse reactions. For example, some patients who received intravenous injections of PVP-containing drugs developed PVP storage disease. However, this situation mainly occurs in patients who use PVP-containing injections for a long time and in large quantities.
From the perspective of authoritative agencies, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) lists PVP as a "generally recognized as safe" (GRAS) substance. Animal experiments have shown that PVP is almost not absorbed after oral or subcutaneous injection, and most of it is excreted from the body with urine. Long-term toxicity tests have also found no obvious carcinogenicity or teratogenicity. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has also evaluated PVP and allowed it to be used in food and medicine within a specific concentration range. The evaluation results of the US Cosmetic Ingredient Evaluation Committee (CIR) show that the raw material is safe for use in cosmetics when the concentration is not higher than (13.3% for leaching type) (35% for resident type). When the amount added in the formula is lower than this concentration, it will not cause harm to human health under normal, reasonable and foreseeable conditions of use. On October 27, 2017, the World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer classified polyvinyl pyrrolidone as a Class 3 carcinogen, that is, a substance that has not yet been classified as carcinogenic to humans. However, this does not mean that PVP will pose a direct carcinogenic risk to the human body in daily use. In practical applications, it has been widely regarded as safe.
1. Allergic reaction
Some people may be allergic to polyvinylpyrrolidone. After contacting or ingesting products containing this substance, uncomfortable symptoms such as skin itching, redness, and edema may occur. In severe cases, it may develop into allergic urticaria or allergic dermatitis, which will cause certain harm to health. Especially for people with sensitive skin, when using cosmetics or medicines containing PVP, they need to pay more attention to whether they have allergic reactions.
2.Inhalation risk
Long-term contact or severe inhalation of PVP dust may cause discomfort to the respiratory system and cause respiratory irritation symptoms such as coughing and wheezing. For professionals engaged in related production work and working in an environment containing PVP dust for a long time, this is an issue that needs to be paid special attention to.
3.Accumulation risk
Although most studies have shown that PVP will not be biodegraded in the body and may accumulate in cells, there is currently no sufficient evidence to show that this will cause serious damage to the human body. However, in theory, long-term high-dose exposure, especially when using excessive amounts of products containing PVP, its accumulation in the body may have potential health effects, such as increasing the metabolic burden on organs such as the liver. However, this risk is relatively low at normal dosages.
4.Risks for special groups
For special groups such as pregnant women and breastfeeding women, due to their special physiological state, they may be more sensitive to chemicals. Although there is no clear evidence that PVP is seriously harmful to them, it is recommended to consult a doctor when using related products out of caution.
In general, under normal conditions of use, in accordance with the prescribed dosage and method of use, polyvinyl pyrrolidone is generally considered to be relatively safe. In daily life, when we buy and use products containing polyvinyl pyrrolidone, we need to pay attention to the following points:
Pay attention to product labels: Carefully check the product's ingredient list to understand the content of polyvinyl pyrrolidone in the product. If you are sensitive to this ingredient or have doubts, you can give priority to products that do not contain this ingredient.
Follow the instructions for use: Strictly follow the recommendations on the product instructions to avoid overuse or abuse. For example, when using cosmetics, do not apply excessively in pursuit of effects; when taking medicines containing PVP, be sure to follow the doctor's advice and take it according to the prescribed dosage.
Perform local testing: For new products containing PVP, especially cosmetics, you can first perform local testing on a small area of skin, observe for a period of time to see if there is any discomfort, and then decide whether to continue using it.
Occupational protection: For professionals who have long-term and large-scale exposure to PVP, such as relevant production workers, appropriate protective measures should be adopted, such as wearing masks and gloves to avoid direct contact and reduce the risk of inhaling dust.
With the continuous advancement of science and technology, research on polyvinyl pyrrolidone is also continuing to deepen. In the future, scientists are expected to further clarify its effects on the human body under various circumstances and provide stronger protection for our health. Before that, as consumers, we should remain rational and cautious, correctly understand and use products containing polyvinyl pyrrolidone to ensure our own health.