Are synthetic polymers in cosmetics safe?

Today, surrounded by synthetic polymers

Synthetic polymers are the main components of plastics, coatings, paints, cosmetics, personal care products, and many other products.

With hundreds of millions of tonnes produced annually worldwide, we come into contact with countless synthetic polymers on a daily basis.
Also, After human use, synthetic polymers have an impact not only on humans but also on the natural environment.

Concerns about harmful effects

The harmful effects of plastic have been studied for many years, and many scientific studies point to its hazards.

Yet, due to their tiny size, synthetic polymers continue to be exempt from global restrictions on their use.

The same is true for cosmetics. Even in Europe, where cosmetic safety standards are said to be the strictest in the world, synthetic polymers are not regulated.

Microplastics , which contain synthetic polymers, also raise concerns about persistence, bioaccumulation, and environmental contaminants (PBT concerns).

However, there are no laws restricting the use of many synthetic polymers, so many synthetic polymers with PBT concerns continue to be used in cosmetics.

Unregulated synthetic polymers

Synthetic polymers that remain unregulated despite various concerns and uncertain safety status include:

• Water-soluble polymers
• Liquid Polymer
• Semi-Solid Polymers

Water-soluble synthetic polymers

It is a plastic that dissolves and disperses in water and has water absorption properties. In Europe and the United States, it is also called "liquid microplastics."

Because of its very useful properties, it is used not only in cosmetics but also in paints, building materials, agricultural products, and more.
As a result, emissions into the natural environment are increasing year by year.

Some water-soluble polymers decompose very slowly in the natural environment and may remain for long periods of time, while others decompose easily and may break down into various degradation products or may be persistent and harmful.

Polyacrylamide is a water-soluble synthetic polymer

Polyacrylamide is an example of a water-soluble polymer, the parent acrylamide of which is a known neurotoxin and carcinogen.

However, special analytical tools are required to determine the extent and concentration of water-soluble polymers that have accumulated.
Therefore, despite the increasing amounts of synthetic polymers being released into nature, the impacts of water-soluble polymers on the environment and human health remain unclear.

Liquid and Semi-Solid Polymers

Some synthetic polymers are used in a liquid or semi-solid state.
Depending on their molecular structure, these polymers can be water-soluble or form insoluble droplets.

Dimethicone is a liquid synthetic polymer

Dimethicone is an example of a liquid polymer that is used in many cosmetics. It is a silicone-based substance and is called silicone oil in Japan.

Dimethicone is a substance that is difficult to biodegrade, so it meets the standards set by the European REACH. If it is released into the environment, it does not break down easily.
Furthermore, there are concerns that it may have endocrine disrupting effects on the human body.

Despite its potential negative impacts on both the environment and the human body, it continues to be an ingredient used in so many cosmetics.

Much higher usage than microbeads

A 2018 German study reported on the use of synthetic polymers in cosmetics.
According to the study, the synthetic polymers used in cosmetics are far more likely to be liquid or semi-solid than to be solid, such as microbeads .

The annual usage of solid synthetic polymers is 922 tonnes, while the usage of water-soluble, semi-solid and liquid polymers is a whopping 23,700 tonnes! And that's just in cosmetics!

So much synthetic polymer, or microplastic, continues to flow into the ocean unregulated.
What do you think about this fact?