"ENVIRONMENTAL AND HEALTH RISKS OF PARABEN PRESERVATIVES IN LOW-QUALITY COSMETICS: PERSISTENCE IN ECOSYSTEMS AND IMPACT ON SKIN SENSITIVITY AND ALLERGIES"

Abstract

Parabens are widely used as preservatives in high production and low-cost cosmetic products because of their ability to preserve products and their non-biodegradable nature poses a big concern. This paper aims to discuss the bioaccumulative property of parabens in aqueous environment and the skin related consequences of their wide application in cosmetic products. A pilot cross-sectional study to assess consumer understanding and encounters with parabens portrays a low level of awareness regarding the existence and harms of parabens along with high rates of cutaneous manifestations including irritation and allergy. However, the reason why more and more people turn to the exclusion of paraben products is still due to the increasing demand for safer and more environmentally friendly products. From these observations, there is the need to improve legislation on paraben use in cosmetics especially in developed nations and there is the need to increase the amount of public health concern in nations for more effective, less-hazardous preservative substances in cosmetics.