The implication of parabens in cosmetics and cosmeceuticals: advantages and limitations

[Translated article] Standard and Expanded Series Patch Testing Update by the Spanish Contact Dermatitis and Skin Allergy Research Group (GEIDAC)

After the meeting held by the Spanish Contact Dermatitis and Skin Allergy Research Group (GEIDAC) back in October 2021, changes were suggested to the Spanish Standard Series patch testing. Hydroxyethyl methacrylate (2% pet.), textile dye mixt (6.6% pet.), linalool hydroperoxide (1% pet.), and limonene hydroperoxide (0.3% pet.) were, then, added to the series that agreed upon in 2016. Ethyldiamine and phenoxyethanol were excluded. Methyldibromoglutaronitrile, the mixture of sesquiterpene lactones, and hydroxyisohexyl 3-cyclohexene (Lyral) were also added to the extended Spanish series of 2022.

Parabens and triclosan in red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) from China: Concentrations, tissue distribution and related human dietary intake risk

Parabens (PBs) and triclosan (TCS) are commonly found in pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs). As a result, they have been extensively found in the environment, particularly in aquaculture operations. Red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) consumption has significantly risen in China. Nevertheless, the levels of PBs and TCS in this species and the associated risk to human dietary intake remain undisclosed. This study assessed the amounts of five PBs, i.e., methyl-paraben (MeP), ethyl-paraben (EtP), propyl-paraben (PrP), butyl-paraben (BuP) and benzyl-paraben (BzP), as well as TCS in crayfish taken from five provinces of the middle-lower Yangtze River. MeP, PrP and TCS showed the highest detection rates (hepatopancreas: 46-86 %; muscle: 63-77 %) since they are commonly used in PPCPs. Significantly higher levels of ∑5PBs (median: 3.69 ng/g) and TCS (median: 7.27 ng/g) were significantly found in the hepatopancreas compared to the muscle (median: 0.39 ng/g for ∑5PBs and 0.16 ng/g for TCS) (p < 0.05), indicating bioaccumulation of these chemicals in the hepatopancreas. The estimated daily intake values of ∑5PBs and TCS calculated from the median concentrations of crayfish were 6.44-7.94 ng/kg bw/day and 11.4-14.0 ng/kg bw/day, respectively. Although no health risk was predicted from consuming crayfish (HQ <1), consumption of the hepatopancreas is not recommended.

Standard and Expanded Series Patch Testing Update by the Spanish Contact Dermatitis and Skin Allergy Research Group (GEIDAC)

After the meeting held by the Spanish Contact Dermatitis and Skin Allergy Research Group (GEIDAC) back in October 2021, changes were suggested to the Spanish standard series patch testing. Hydroxyethyl methacrylate (2% pet.), textile dye mixt (6.6% pet.), linalool hydroperoxide (1% pet.), and limonene hydroperoxide (0.3% pet.) were, then, added to the series that agreed upon in 2016. Ethyldiamine and phenoxyethanol were excluded. Methyldibromoglutaronitrile, the mixture of sesquiterpene lactones, and hydroxyisohexyl 3-cyclohexene (Lyral) were alo added to the extended Spanish series of 2022.

Development of a hierarchical support vector regression-based in silico model for the prediction of the cysteine depletion in DPRA

Topical and transdermal treatments have been dramatically growing recently and it is crucial to consider skin sensitization during the drug discovery and development process for these administration routes. Various tests, including animal and non-animal approaches, have been devised to assess the potential for skin sensitization. Furthermore, numerous in silico models have been created, providing swift and cost-effective alternatives to traditional methods such as in vivo, in vitro, and in chemico methods for categorizing compounds. In this study, a quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) model was developed using the innovative hierarchical support vector regression (HSVR) scheme. The aim was to quantitatively predict the potential for skin sensitization by analyzing the percent of cysteine depletion in Direct Peptide Reactivity Assay (DPRA). The results demonstrated accurate, consistent, and robust predictions in the training set, test set, and outlier set. Consequently, this model can be employed to estimate skin sensitization potential of novel or virtual compounds.

Biomonitoring of parabens in wild boars through hair samples analysis

Parabens are compounds widely utilized in the industry as preservative additives to personal care products, cosmetics and food. They pollute the environment and penetrate to the living organisms through the digestive tract, respiratory system and skin. Till now the knowledge about exposure of terrestrial wild mammals to parabens is extremely scarce. Therefore, this study for the first time assessed the concentration levels of five parabens commonly used in industry (methylparaben-MeP, ethylparaben-EtP propylparaben-PrP, benzylparaben -BeP and butylparaben-BuP). Substances have been analyzed in hair samples collected from wild boars using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) method. The hair is a matrix, which allows to study long-term exposure of organisms to parabens. During this study MeP was noted in 96.3% of samples with mean 88.3±72.9 pg/mg, PrP in 87.0% of samples with mean 8.5±3.3 pg/mg, BeP in 44.4% of samples with mean 17.2±12.3 pg/mg and EtP in 11.1% of samples with mean 17.2±4.8 pg/mg. In turn BuP was noted only in 3.7% of samples with concentration levels below limit of quantification (2.6 pg/mg). Statistically significant intragender differences in parabens levels have not been noted. Only BeP concentration levels depended on industrialization and density of human population of area, where the animals lived. This study indicates that wild boars are exposed to parabens, especially to MeP and PrP, and analysis of the hair seems to be a useful tool of biomonitoring of parabens in wild mammals.

Decoding Cosmetic Complexities: A Comprehensive Guide to Matrix Composition and Pretreatment Technology

Despite advancements in analytical technologies, the complex nature of cosmetic matrices, coupled with the presence of diverse and trace unauthorized additives, hinders the application of these technologies in cosmetics analysis. This not only impedes effective regulation of cosmetics but also leads to the continual infiltration of illegal products into the market, posing serious health risks to consumers. The establishment of cosmetic regulations is often based on extensive scientific experiments, resulting in a certain degree of latency. Therefore, timely advancement in laboratory research is crucial to ensure the timely update and adaptability of regulations. A comprehensive understanding of the composition of cosmetic matrices and their pretreatment technologies is vital for enhancing the efficiency and accuracy of cosmetic detection. Drawing upon the China National Medical Products Administration's 2021 Cosmetic Classification Rules and Classification Catalogue, we streamline the wide array of cosmetics into four principal categories based on the following compositions: emulsified, liquid, powdered, and wax-based cosmetics. In this review, the characteristics, compositional elements, and physicochemical properties inherent to each category, as well as an extensive overview of the evolution of pretreatment methods for different categories, will be explored. Our objective is to provide a clear and comprehensive guide, equipping researchers with profound insights into the core compositions and pretreatment methods of cosmetics, which will in turn advance cosmetic analysis and improve detection and regulatory approaches in the industry.

Physiological impact of personal care product constituents on non-target aquatic organisms

Personal care products (PCPs) are products used in cleaning, beautification, grooming, and personal hygiene. The rise in diversity, usage, and availability of PCPs has resulted in their higher accumulation in the environment. Thus, these constitute an emerging category of environmental contaminants due to the potential of its constituents (chemical and non-chemical) to induce various physiological effects even at lower concentrations (ng/L). For analyzing the impact of the PCPs constituents on the non-target organism about 300 article including research articles, review articles and guidelines were studied from 2000 to 2023. This review aims to firstly discuss the fate and accumulation of PCPs in the aquatic environment and organisms; secondly provides overview of environmental risks that are linked to PCPs; thirdly review the trends, current status of regulations and risks associated with PCPs and finally discuss the knowledge gaps and future perspectives for future research. The article discusses important constituents of PCPs such as antimicrobials, cleansing agents and disinfectants, fragrances, insect repellent, moisturizers, plasticizers, preservatives, surfactants, UV filters, and UV stabilizers. Each of them has been found to display certain toxic impact on the aquatic organisms especially the plasticizers and UV filters. These continuously and persistently release biologically active and inactive components which interferes with the physiological system of the non-target organism such as fish, corals, shrimps, bivalves, algae, etc. With a rise in the number of toxicity reports, concerns are being raised over the potential impacts of these contaminant on aquatic organism and humans. The rate of adoption of nanotechnology in PCPs is greater than the evaluation of the safety risk associated with the nano-additives. Hence, this review article presents the current state of knowledge on PCPs in aquatic ecosystems.

Parabens as environmental contaminants of aquatic systems affecting water quality and microbial dynamics

Among different pollutants of emerging concern, parabens have gained rising interest due to their widespread detection in water sources worldwide. This occurs because parabens are used in personal care products, pharmaceuticals, and food, in which residues are generated and released into aquatic environments. The regulation of the use of parabens varies across different geographic regions, resulting in diverse concentrations observed globally. Concentrations of parabens exceeding 100 μg/L have been found in wastewater treatment plants and surface waters while drinking water (DW) sources typically exhibit concentrations below 6 μg/L. Despite their low levels, the presence of parabens in DW is a potential exposure route for humans, raising concerns for both human health and environmental microbiota. Although a few studies have reported alterations in the functions and characteristics of microbial communities following exposure to emerging contaminants, the impact of the exposure to parabens by microbial communities, particularly biofilm colonizers, remains largely understudied. This review gathers the most recent information on the occurrence of parabens in water sources, as well as their effects on human health and aquatic organisms. The interactions of parabens with microbial communities are reviewed for the first time, filling the knowledge gaps on the effects of paraben exposure on microbial ecosystems and their impact on disinfection tolerance and antimicrobial resistance, with potential implications for public health.

Impact of parabens on drinking water bacteria and their biofilms: The role of exposure time and substrate materials

Parabens have been detected in drinking water (DW) worldwide, however, their impact on DW microbial communities remains to be explored. Microorganisms can easily adapt to environmental changes. Therefore, their exposure to contaminants of emerging concern, particularly parabens, in DW distribution systems (DWDS) may affect the microbiological quality and safety of the DW reaching the consumers tap. This work provides a pioneer evaluation of the effects of methylparaben (MP), propylparaben (PP), butylparaben (BP), and their combination (MIX), in bacterial biofilms formed on different surfaces, representative of DWDS materials - high-density polyethylene (HDPE), polypropylene (PPL) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Acinetobacter calcoaceticus and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, isolated from DW, were used to form single and dual-species biofilms on the surface materials selected. The exposure to MP for 7 days caused the most significant effects on biofilms, by increasing their cellular culturability, density, and thickness up to 233%, 150%, and 224%, respectively, in comparison to non-exposed biofilms. Overall, more pronounced alterations were detected for single biofilms than for dual-species biofilms when HDPE and PPL, demonstrating that the surface material used affected the action of parabens on biofilms. Swimming motility and the production of virulence factors (protease and gelatinase) by S. maltophilia were increased up to 141%, 41%, and 73%, respectively, when exposed to MP for 7 days. The overall results highlight the potential of parabens to interfere with DW bacteria in planktonic state and biofilms, and compromise the DW microbiological quality and safety.

Biodegradable Block Poly(ester amine)s with Pendant Hydroxyl Groups for Biomedical Applications

The article presents the results of the synthesis and characteristics of the amphiphilic block terpolymers, built of a hydrophilic polyesteramine block, and hydrophobic blocks made of lactidyl and glycolidyl units. These terpolymers were obtained during the copolymerization of L-lactide with glycolide carried out in the presence of previously produced macroinitiators with protected amine and hydroxyl groups. The terpolymers were prepared to produce a biodegradable and biocompatible material containing active hydroxyl and/or amino groups, with strong antibacterial properties and high surface wettability by water. The control of the reaction course, the process of deprotection of functional groups, and the properties of the obtained terpolymers were made based on 1H NMR, FTIR, GPC, and DSC tests. Terpolymers differed in the content of amino and hydroxyl groups. The values of average molecular mass oscillated from about 5000 g/mol to less than 15,000 g/mol. Depending on the length of the hydrophilic block and its composition, the value of the contact angle ranged from 50° to 20°. The terpolymers containing amino groups, capable of forming strong intra- and intermolecular bonds, show a high degree of crystallinity. The endotherm responsible for the melting of L-lactidyl semicrystalline regions appeared in the range from about 90 °C to close to 170 °C, with a heat of fusion from about 15 J/mol to over 60 J/mol.

Presence of Parabens in Different Children Biological Matrices and Its Relationship with Body Mass Index

Parabens have been accepted almost worldwide as preservatives by the cosmetic, food, and pharmaceutical industries. Since epidemiological evidence of the obesogenic activity of parabens is weak, the aim of this study was to investigate the association between parabens exposure and childhood obesity. Four parabens (methylparaben/MetPB, ethylparaben/EthPB, propylparaben/PropPB, and butylparaben/ButPB) were measured in 160 children's bodies between 6 and 12 years of age. Parabens measurements were performed with ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS). Logistic regression was used to evaluate risk factors for elevated body weight associated with paraben exposure. No significant relation was detected between children's body weight and the presence of parabens in the samples. This study confirmed the omnipresence of parabens in children's bodies. Our results could be a basis for future research about the effect of parabens on childhood body weight using nails as a biomarker due to the ease of its collection and its non-invasive character.

Exploring the Dynamical Nature of Intermolecular Hydrogen Bonds in Benzamide, Quinoline and Benzoic Acid Derivatives

The hydrogen bonds properties of 2,6-difluorobenzamide, 5-hydroxyquinoline and 4-hydroxybenzoic acid were investigated by Car-Parrinello and path integral molecular dynamics (CPMD and PIMD), respectively. The computations were carried out in vacuo and in the crystalline phase. The studied complexes possess diverse networks of intermolecular hydrogen bonds (N-H…O, O-H…N and O-H…O). The time evolution of hydrogen bridges gave a deeper insight into bonds dynamics, showing that bridged protons are mostly localized on the donor side; however, the proton transfer phenomenon was registered as well. The vibrational features associated with O-H and N-H stretching were analyzed on the basis of the Fourier transform of the atomic velocity autocorrelation function. The spectroscopic effects of hydrogen bond formation were studied. The PIMD revealed quantum effects influencing the hydrogen bridges providing more accurate free energy sampling. It was found that the N…O or O…O interatomic distances decreased (reducing the length of the hydrogen bridge), while the O-H or N-H covalent bond was elongated, which led to the increase in the proton sharing. Furthermore, Quantum Theory of Atoms in Molecules (QTAIM) was used to give insight into electronic structure parameters. Finally, Symmetry-Adapted Perturbation Theory (SAPT) was employed to estimate the energy contributions to the interaction energy of the selected dimers.

Plastics and Microplastic in the Cosmetic Industry: Aggregating Sustainable Actions Aimed at Alignment and Interaction with UN Sustainable Development Goals

Excessive use of petroleum derivatives in cosmetics, whether in compositions or packaging, predominating the use of plastics, parabens, microplastics and other polymers, has had negative environmental impacts. The cosmetics market has gained prominence in recent years and bioeconomy and circular economy policies are putting pressure on the market to use bio-based and biodegradable materials. In this context, the objective of this review article is to provide an overview of how the aggregation of sustainable actions in the cosmetic industry contributes to the fulfillment of the 2030 Agenda and how this can serve as a guide in building a more resilient and sustainable society. For that, the generation of residues during the production processes was examined and the environmental problems generated by the cosmetic industry were addressed. Then, the role of aggregating sustainable actions and innovations with regard to the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the cosmetic industry were evaluated.