Parabens are biocides that are used as preservatives in food, cosmetics and medicine. Due to their ability to disrupt cell membranes and intracellular proteins, they have antibacterial and antifungal activity and cause changes in the enzymatic activity of microbial cells. Water, one of the most precious natural resources, has become a huge reservoir of parabens. Halogenated parabens resulting from chlorination/ozonation of water contaminated with parabens are even more persistent in water than other parabens. In order to prevent severe damage to the environment, it is necessary to completely purify these polluted waters by the sewage treatment system package.
Unfortunately, there is no information about the presence (halogenated parabens) and their fate in groundwater, which serves as the main source of drinking water for a huge population in developing countries. An attempt to ignore the presence of parabens in water exposes humans to it through consumption of contaminated food and water.
Although there are studies on the occurrence, fate and behavior of parabens in the environment, they largely exclude aspects of toxicity and elimination. In this research, various technologies have been used to remove parabens in water, including surface absorption, biodegradation, membrane technology, and advanced oxidation processes. The heterogeneous photocatalytic process seems to be more favorable for the removal of parabens due to its ability to mineralize parabens in water. However, more research is needed to improve this ability of heterogeneous photocatalysts.
source: Bolujoko, Nathaniel B., et al. “Toxicity and removal of parabens from water: A critical review.” Science of The Total Environment (2021): 148092
