Artificial Perspiration: A new tool in the fight against harmful PFAS exposure.
Synthetic sweat is revolutionising research into how “forever chemicals” including PFAS are absorbed through the skin, an often-overlooked exposure pathway. With advanced formulations developed by Pickering Laboratories, researchers can now simulate chemical interactions between manufactured products and skin surface liquid film (SSLF), our sweat, with precision.

How skin absorption plays a role
Studies on PBDEs and BFRs highlight the importance of dermal absorption:
• From dust to skin: A study using artificial skin models estimated that 3% of PBDEs adhered to skin from soil could be absorbed, making dermal exposure the second largest contributor to total body burden after dust ingestion.
Pickering Laboratories: setting the Gold Standard

Pickering Laboratories is the leading manufacturer of artificial biological fluids, including sweat, saliva, and urine, which have become invaluable for research into dermal absorption. Their complex formulations are designed to mimic human biologicals with exceptional accuracy, ensuring consistent and reliable results for in vitro dissolution testing. They are particularly useful for assessing the dissolution of chemicals from various materials including wearable technologies (electronics), jewellery, textiles, cosmetics, and medications in contact with human skin. These formulations are essential for creating reliable in vitro models that reflect in vivo skin conditions.
Pickering’s artificial sweat formulations address the challenges found in studies, where the composition and pH of sweat and sebum in artificial systems did not always align with human skin surface liquid films (SSLF). By using an extensively researched SSLF model, Pickering Laboratories creates a more accurate representation of human sweat and sebum. This helps to ensure that dissolution testing conditions – such as the pH, temperature, and constituent concentrations – are biologically relevant.
Additionally, when using Pickering’s formulations, researchers can consider factors that influence test results, including SSLF temperature, agitation, and the material properties of both the test articles and containers. The accuracy of dissolution testing is optimised, making it easier to predict how chemicals interact with skin. The result is better risk assessment and subsequent protective measures for exposed individuals.
Key features of Pickering’s artificial sweat formulations include:
- Precision composition: The formulations contain water, salts, urea, and an array of fatty acids that replicate the chemical environment of human sweat. Fatty acids play a crucial role in stimulating interactions with lipophilic chemicals such as PFAS.
- Consistency across studies: Unlike biological samples, which can vary between individuals and environments, artificial fluids provide a standardised medium for experiments, ensuring reproducibility.
- Application versatility: Pickering’s artificial biologicals are used not only in PFAS research but also in studies of personal care products, textiles, and medical devices, making them essential tools for understanding human exposure across a range of contexts.
Why artificial sweat matters for PFAS research

- Understanding exposure pathways: Artificial sweat helps identify the extent to which PFAS are absorbed through treated fabrics, household dust, and personal care products.
- Simulating human conditions: Sweat composition varies with activity and environment. Pickering’s advanced formulations mimic these nuances, providing critical insights into factors affecting absorption.
- Evaluating product safety: By testing PFAS-treated materials under controlled conditions, scientists can assess their safety and guide product development toward safer alternatives.
A consistent response to a complex challenge
The use of artificial biological fluids that provide accurate, reproducible, and biologically relevant conditions is enabling researchers to unravel the complexities of PFAS exposure. As public concern about these persistent chemicals grows, advances in artificial sweat formulations are helping scientists deliver critical insights—and solutions—for a safer future.
As a supplier of Certified Reference Materials (CRMs) from the world’s leading Reference Material Producers (RMP’s), and Distribution Partner with Pickering Laboratories, ESSLAB are actively engaged with researchers and manufacturers providing a total solution to materials testing.
For more information, please contact ESSLAB by live chat, email, or phone
References
What you need to know about PFAS Analysis: PFAS Analysis – ESSLAB
EPA Methods: EPA Method 1600 – ESSLAB
PFAS CRM’s: PFAS Reference Materials | ESSLAB
Pickering Laboratories: Artificial Body Fluids – ESSLAB
PRODUCT HIGHLIGHT: APOCRINE SWEAT
By Saji George
Apocrine glands are a member of the sweat gland family. Although present from birth, apocrine glands become active during puberty and start to produce apocrine sweat. This sweat is composed of proteins, carbohydrates, fatty acids, steroids, lipids electrolytes, and nitrogen metabolites such as ammonia and urea. Apocrine sweat is initially sterile and odorless but when acted upon by commensal bacteria present in the axilla region, it produces the malodor compounds responsible for the human axillary odor.
Participation in sports and other types of exercise has become an integral part of many people’s everyday life as a means to achieving a healthy lifestyle. Clothing can play a further role in retaining or emanating odor because bodily secretions and skin bacteria may be easily transferred from the body onto the adjacent garment.
Odor-control products are now in high demand, including: textiles, personal hygiene products, and underarm hygiene products that are formulated with nutrients or antibacterial substances after careful investigation of skin flora.
Pickering Laboratories’ artificial apocrine sweat was formulated as a human mimic after thorough research of available literature. It includes necessary chemicals that are vital to its unique properties. There is nothing else like it on the market! Our diverse customers come from the fragrance, odor control, personal care, and performance textile industries, to name a few.
PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT – 1700-0324, ARTIFICIAL SALIVA WITH MUCIN (950 ML)
PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT – 1700-0324, ARTIFICIAL SALIVA WITH MUCIN
(950 ML)
Responding to overwhelming demand, Pickering Labs has introduced our Artificial Saliva with Mucin in a new, larger 950 mL size! This solution has been in the spotlight recently, as ASTM E2720-16/ASTM E2721-16 specifies decontamination procedures for surfaces and materials contaminated with human pathogenic viruses. The formulation has a mineral composition and pH close to human saliva and contains Mucin to increase the viscosity and lubricating ability of the solution. This artificial saliva can also be used for dental, drug delivery and pharmaceutical studies. Research into COVID transmission is a major focus for the whole world at present and Pickering Labs is proud to supply products that aid in this research.
Kevin McKeown
Sales Manager
Pickering Laboratories, Inc.
1280 Space Park Way
Mountain View, CA 94043, USA
kmckeown@pickeringlabs.com
Phone: (302) 229-5928
AATCC SHOW
By: Kevin McKeown
We continue to get back on the road, with Kevin McKeown (Sales Manager) and Saji George (Quality Assurance Manager) attending the AATCC (American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists) 2021 Exhibition held in Research Triangle Park, NC. This was Pickering Labs first time as an exhibitor and the show was fantastic! Not only did we learn a lot from the scholarly presentations put on by attendees, but were also honored to have our Artificial Perspiration included in the Time Capsule, which commemorated the 100th anniversary of the AATCC organization! We created a short video for the Time Capsule which can be viewed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_e3QjijWyWM.
Another highlight from the show was the debut of our Artificial Blood solution, which is intended to aid in the analysis of textiles for permeability and staining. The reception of this new product was great and we look forward to attending more of these shows that focus on our PTS (Product Testing Solutions) product line of artificial body fluids!
SYNTHETIC BLOOD
By: Saji George
Product Number: 1700-0820
This synthetic blood formulation is prepared according to official methods ASTM F1819-07, ASTM F1670, ASTM F1862 and ASTM F2100. It is intended for product testing and has the surface tension and viscosity close to human blood. Additionally, the color of the solution is intended to mimic the appearance of genuine human blood. The formulation can be used to evaluate the effectiveness of materials used in protective clothing. It can also be used to evaluate absorption capacity of materials that are in contact with human skin for prolonged periods. The formulation is not suitable for medical research. It can be stored at room temperature and has a shelf life of one year.