A Review of Environmental and Health Effects of Synthetic Cosmetics
October 2024
in “
Frontiers in Environmental Science
”
Studysummary This review found that synthetic cosmetics pose risks to human health, potentially causing various diseases, and negatively impact ecosystems, air quality, and oceans from production to waste disposal, highlighting the broad environmental and health consequences of cosmetic use. Our plain-language summary of this paper — not a Tressless recommendation.
The review discusses the environmental and health risks of synthetic cosmetics, highlighting harmful ingredients such as parabens, triclosan, phthalates, and heavy metals like lead and mercury. These substances can lead to health issues, including cancer and endocrine disruption, and pose ecological risks through bioaccumulation and pollution in aquatic environments. The review emphasizes the need for stricter regulations, particularly in the U.S., to align with the E.U.'s more stringent standards. It also calls for sustainable practices in the cosmetics industry to mitigate pollution, habitat destruction, and biodiversity loss caused by the production and disposal of these products.
