Skip to main content

REVIEW article

Front. Environ. Sci.
Sec. Toxicology, Pollution and the Environment
Volume 12 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fenvs.2024.1402893

A review of Environmental and Health Effects of Synthetic Cosmetics

Provisionally accepted
  • Madda Walabu University, Bale Robe, Oromia, Ethiopia

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    The use of cosmetic products is expanding globally, and with it, so is the range of chemical substances employed in their production. As a result, there is also a higher risk of intoxication, allergic reactions, prolonged chemical exposure, adverse effects, and indiscriminate use. Cosmetic products can contain more than 10,000 ingredients. Most users of synthetic cosmetics are unaware of the harmful effects if they even are. However, it is linked to many diseases like cancer, congenital disabilities, reproductive impairments, developmental systems, contact dermatitis, hair loss, lung damage, old age, skin diseases and reactions, allergies, and harm to human nails. Many beauty products also create a high demand for natural oils, leading to extensive and intensive cultivation, harming natural habitats through deforestation, and contaminating soil and water through pesticides and fertilizers. The adverse effects of hazardous substances in synthetic cosmetics extend beyond human health and influence ecosystems, air quality, and oceans. Thus, this review aims to assess the environmental and health impacts of cosmetics using published scientific articles. The study used a systematic review based on Scopus, Science Direct, Web databases, Scholar Google, and PubMed. The results of this review showed that the formulation of cosmetics until the disposal of their containers could adversely affect environmental and human health.

    Keywords: Cosmetic pollution, Cosmetic impact, cosmetics and human health, cosmetic products, Environmental impact, health risks, Synthetic Cosmetics, Waste Management

    Received: 18 Mar 2024; Accepted: 20 Sep 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 wirtu. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence: Yohannes D. wirtu, Madda Walabu University, Bale Robe, Oromia, Ethiopia

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.