Understanding the Environmental Distribution and Potential Health Risks of Pollutants from Deodorant Products: A Review

¹ Department of Civil Engineering, École Centrale School of Engineering, Mahindra University, Telangana, 500043, India
² Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad, Kandi, Telangana, 502285, India
³ Department of Food and Nutrition Science, Faculty of Agricultural, Life and Environmental Science, University of Alberta, Canada
⁴ Chemical and Process Engineering, The Sirindhorn International Thai-German Graduate School of Engineering, King Mongkut’s University of Technology North Bangkok, Bangkok, 10800, Thailand

^* Corresponding author: Keerthi.katam@mahindrauniversity.edu.in

Abstract

Deodorants are frequently used personal care products; however, questions have been raised concerning their possible toxicity to cause air and water pollution, and their potential impact on human health. The degree to which deodorant ingredients, such as fragrance chemicals, antibacterial compounds, aluminium compounds, and preservatives, are toxic depends on their chemical composition. Many of these chemicals have been connected to adverse health effects, such as skin rashes, allergic reactions, endocrine disruption, and respiratory problems. Understanding these chemicals’ toxicity is crucial for determining any potential risks to human health. Spray formulations have the potential to release volatile organic compounds into the air, such as propellants and fragrance chemicals, which can be harmful to human respiratory health and lead to indoor and outdoor air pollution. Improper disposal and wastewater treatment can lead to the contamination of water bodies, potentially impacting aquatic ecosystems and human water supplies. This review provides an overview of the toxicity of deodorant ingredients in various formulations, including sprays, roll-ons, and sticks. The partition coefficients Log K_aw (air-water partition coefficient), Log K_oa (airorganic carbon partition coefficient), and Log K_ow (octanol-water partition coefficient), values of deodorant ingredients were summarized for assessing their potential for long-range transport, persistence in the environment, and bioaccumulation in organisms.