According to the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), Dimethicone, Cyclotetrasiloxane, and Cyclopentasiloxane have been classified as very difficult to decompose in the environment and bio accumulative. In 2015, the UK submitted documents to ECHA to demonstrate the environmental risks caused by releasing used silicone into wastewater. Silicone is insoluble in water and will be swept away by the flow. Fish and other aquatic creatures will eat this substance, and it has been found that their digestive systems are clogged with silicone. This can result in related illnesses and even death.
The use of silicone in cosmetics is increasing, so the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) reviewed the Degradation and Bioaccumulation of silicone and concluded:
Dimethicone, D4 , and D5 are considered Very Persistent Substances and Very Bioaccumulative Substances (substances that accumulate in an organism) in the environment (vPvB). (1,2)
Then, in March 2016, the Agency’s Risk Assessment Committee (RAC) concluded that D4 was determined to be a persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic substance (PBT). (3)
D4 is classified as a category III reproductive toxicant and may include category I persistent organic pollutants of mammals and aquatic life. (1,2)
On 17 April 2015, the UK presented to ECHA a proposal to restrict the use of D4 and D5 in cosmetic products. Documentation has demonstrated the environmental risks posed by using D4 and D5 when discharged into wastewater. (4)
Tài liệu tham khảo:
- https://echa.europa.eu/documents/10162/13628/octamethyl_pbtsheet_en.pdf/19d40ef0-a0d2-4e93-8840-ae1e1572e5ca
- https://echa.europa.eu/documents/10162/13628/decamethyl_pbtsheet_en.pdf/e9c5b12b-49fb-4f44-876b-8b44c5f13f0d
- https://echa.europa.eu/documents/10162/13794bcd-8882-b609-46b4-a4bc1263e6e3
- ECHA (European Chemicals Agency). Annex XV restriction report. Proposal for a restriction. Octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane. Decamethylcyclopentasiloxane (2015) https://echa.europa.eu/documents/10162/9a53a4d9-a641-4b7b-ad58-8fec6cf26229 (accessed on October 17, 2018).
