10 Review on Trends in the Removal of Pharmaceuticals …
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study also indicating that anaerobic sludge digestion is also not sufficient to eradicate
PPCPs from the wastewater completely.
10.4 Toxicity and Regulations
Personal care products, the largest class of unavoidable category of threats to our
health, are being used widely throughout the world. These types of toxic cosmetics
have ingredients that initiate health hazards. Bisphenol A (BPA) is a classic example
of this type of ingredients. BPA is largely used in pipes, interior of food cans, steel
drums, sealing teeth, and plastic water bottles. It is reported that BPA exposed to
human rapidly. The study undertaken by NHANES III pointed that around 93%
of urine samples from humans between 6 years and older were found to have the
unacceptable amount of BPA. This study also indicated that the formula-fed infants
with plastic bottles have 10 times more BPA in their urine than that for the breast-fed
infants. As per the Endocrine Society, BPA interferes with the normal functioning
of male and female reproduction systems and breast development. It also initiates
prostate cancer, thyroid metabolism disorder, obesity, and cardiovascular diseases.
Low doses of BPA often correlated with impaired immune function, early onset of
puberty, obesity, diabetes, and hyperactivity.
Hydroquinone is an active ingredient of skin lighteners. It inhibits tyrosinase, the
key enzyme for melanin synthesis. It is also known to be carcinogenic, genotoxic,
and mutagenic (McGregor 2007; NTP 1989). Parabens are used in cosmetics and
personal care products as preservatives, such as deodorant, shampoo, conditioner,
and moisturizers. These chemicals also have health issues like carcinogenicity and
genotoxicity (Darbre et al. 2004; Darbre and Harvey 2008; Miller et al. 2001).
Use of plant-derived biochemicals often believed to be better than their synthetic
alternatives. In recent years, plant derived bio-chemicals are being used drastically
in the cosmetic and personal care products. However, these bio-chemicals should
also be tested for their health hazards. It is known that these bio-chemical could
initiate adverse dermal effects including irritation, sensitization, phototoxicity, and
immediate-type allergy. It is a well-known fact that taking plant derived chemicals
as dietary supplements and/or herbal medicines might be natural but not always
equivalent to being safe. Realistic approaches are needed to establish the quality and
safety standards of botanical ingredients for consumer safety.
Due to its rapid use, PPCPs also mix into the air, water, and soil and start to
destroy the ecological imbalance. Aquatic systems often are the final repository of
pollutants like PPCPs which could pose severe toxicity to the aquatic biota. In a
recent study, toxic effect of four PPCPs on benthic invertebrates was investigated.
The report indicated that all the four PPCPs were very toxic to the studied benthic
invertebrates.
Recently, more than 100 different PPCPs were found in environmental and drinking water samples. Toxicity of few of those PPCPs was discussed here. 1,4-Dioxane
237
study also indicating that anaerobic sludge digestion is also not sufficient to eradicate
PPCPs from the wastewater completely.
10.4 Toxicity and Regulations
Personal care products, the largest class of unavoidable category of threats to our
health, are being used widely throughout the world. These types of toxic cosmetics
have ingredients that initiate health hazards. Bisphenol A (BPA) is a classic example
of this type of ingredients. BPA is largely used in pipes, interior of food cans, steel
drums, sealing teeth, and plastic water bottles. It is reported that BPA exposed to
human rapidly. The study undertaken by NHANES III pointed that around 93%
of urine samples from humans between 6 years and older were found to have the
unacceptable amount of BPA. This study also indicated that the formula-fed infants
with plastic bottles have 10 times more BPA in their urine than that for the breast-fed
infants. As per the Endocrine Society, BPA interferes with the normal functioning
of male and female reproduction systems and breast development. It also initiates
prostate cancer, thyroid metabolism disorder, obesity, and cardiovascular diseases.
Low doses of BPA often correlated with impaired immune function, early onset of
puberty, obesity, diabetes, and hyperactivity.
Hydroquinone is an active ingredient of skin lighteners. It inhibits tyrosinase, the
key enzyme for melanin synthesis. It is also known to be carcinogenic, genotoxic,
and mutagenic (McGregor 2007; NTP 1989). Parabens are used in cosmetics and
personal care products as preservatives, such as deodorant, shampoo, conditioner,
and moisturizers. These chemicals also have health issues like carcinogenicity and
genotoxicity (Darbre et al. 2004; Darbre and Harvey 2008; Miller et al. 2001).
Use of plant-derived biochemicals often believed to be better than their synthetic
alternatives. In recent years, plant derived bio-chemicals are being used drastically
in the cosmetic and personal care products. However, these bio-chemicals should
also be tested for their health hazards. It is known that these bio-chemical could
initiate adverse dermal effects including irritation, sensitization, phototoxicity, and
immediate-type allergy. It is a well-known fact that taking plant derived chemicals
as dietary supplements and/or herbal medicines might be natural but not always
equivalent to being safe. Realistic approaches are needed to establish the quality and
safety standards of botanical ingredients for consumer safety.
Due to its rapid use, PPCPs also mix into the air, water, and soil and start to
destroy the ecological imbalance. Aquatic systems often are the final repository of
pollutants like PPCPs which could pose severe toxicity to the aquatic biota. In a
recent study, toxic effect of four PPCPs on benthic invertebrates was investigated.
The report indicated that all the four PPCPs were very toxic to the studied benthic
invertebrates.
Recently, more than 100 different PPCPs were found in environmental and drinking water samples. Toxicity of few of those PPCPs was discussed here. 1,4-Dioxane