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Evaluation of pollutants in perfumes, colognes and health effects on the consumer: a systematic review

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Abstract

Cosmetic products, especially perfumes and colognes, are widely used in various communities. However, the use of these products can have side effects on consumers. This article aims to review the relevant literature published up to August 2020 to determine whether perfumes and colognes can affect people’s health. Relevant articles were identified through electronic search. A total of 562 articles were selected and finally 37 related articles were included in the study after the screening process. The results of this systematic study showed that phthalates, aldehydes, parabens and aluminum-based salts are the most important contaminants in aromatic products that cause side effects such as allergies, breast cancer, reproductive disorders, especially in males, skin allergies, nervous system damage and migraine headaches for consumers. The incidence of complications in people using these products depends on parameters such as age, gender, race, amount of substance consumed, duration of use and economic status, and regarding the relationship between diseases such as cancer, respiratory disorders and endocrine with common contaminants in aromatic products, incidence of these diseases is probable in consumers which require further research to prove.

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Abbreviations

PP:

propyl paraben.

BP:

butyl paraben.

PE:

Phthalate ester.

FDA:

Food and Drug Administration.

VOC:

Volatile organic compound.

CACD:

cosmetic allergic contact dermatitis.

EDC:

endocrine disrupting chemical.

PCP:

personal care product.

UOQ:

upper outer quadrant.

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Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support given by the Research Center for Environmental Health Technology, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran (Grant Number:.99-3-61-19198).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research Center of Environmental Health Technology, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Zahra Kazemi, Majid Kermani & Zohre Kazemi

  2. Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Zahra Kazemi, Majid Kermani & Zohre Kazemi

  3. Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran

    Ehsan Aboutaleb

  4. Environmental and Occupational Hazards Control Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Abbas Shahsavani

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  1. Zahra Kazemi
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  2. Ehsan Aboutaleb
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  5. Zohre Kazemi
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Correspondence to Majid Kermani or Zohre Kazemi.

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Kazemi, Z., Aboutaleb, E., Shahsavani, A. et al. Evaluation of pollutants in perfumes, colognes and health effects on the consumer: a systematic review. J Environ Health Sci Engineer 20, 589–598 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40201-021-00783-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40201-021-00783-x

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