Microplastics in Cosmetics and Personal Care Products

Microplastics in personal care products and cosmetics have been identified as a relevant source of plastic pollution that reaches the aquatic environment mainly through wastewater discharge. Regardless of the existence of water treatment plants, these particles, also known as microbeads, can be leached into water bodies, where they interact with different species and other pollutants. In this chapter, a literature review is performed to assess the current state and problems associated with the presence of these particles as ingredients in the mentioned products. The analysis of 67 research papers showed that three main lines of study have been developed: the characterization of microplastics extracted from personal care products and cosmetics, the study of the interactions between microplastics and other ingredients on those products, and the assessment of the toxicity of product-derived microplastics to different species. The results regarding these three topics show the prevalence of white polyethylene microbeads, which have been analyzed mainly in scrubbers. The studied interactions included UV-filter adsorption and stabilizers on the surface and microbeads. Regarding toxicity, the results varied depending on the species and general condition of the tests. Cosmetics and personal care products will always be in our lives; therefore, we should assess the risks involved in their use.