Occurrence and ecotoxicity of cosmetic ingredients in aquatic ecosystems: A narrative review

Consumer demand for cosmetic products continues to rise which can pose an environmental risk as cosmetic ingredients can enter aquatic systems through wastewater discharge, consumer behaviors, inadequate environmental policies, and ineffective water treatment processes. This review compiles the evidence regarding the occurrence of cosmetic ingredients in aquatic systems, and their potential toxicity to aquatic life and the associated environmental concerns. Existing research primarily targets exfoliants, ultraviolet (UV) filters, antioxidants, preservatives, fragrances, and solvents, representing less than 1 % of known cosmetic ingredients. Plastic microbeads and preservatives were identified as the predominant ingredients in aquatic environments, primarily in wastewater samples. Many of the identified compounds were reported to exhibit toxicity towards aquatic organisms, namely invertebrates, algae and fish. Among the cosmetic ingredients assessed, octocrylene and ethylhexyl dimethyl p-aminobenzoic acid (UV filters), butylated hydroxytoluene (antioxidant), musk xylene (fragrance), and diethylhexyl phthalate (solvent) exhibited the highest degree of toxicity towards aquatic organisms. Understanding these dynamics is important for devising mitigation strategies on environmental risks and providing knowledge for future research and regulatory endeavors in this field.