Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41745123›Full record

ArticleJournal of xenobiotics2026

Identification, Quantification, and Characterization of Microplastics in Skincare and Treatment Creams: A Potential Health Concern Related to the Exposure Pathway.

Raluca Maria Stirbescu, Cristiana Radulescu, Raluca Maria Bucur Popa, Andreea Laura Banica, Ioan Alin Bucurica, Ioana Daniela Dulama

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of xenobiotics, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Raluca Maria StirbescuInstitute of Multidisciplinary Research for Science and Technology, Valahia University of Targoviste, 130004 Targoviste, Romania.ORCID 0000-0003-2183-7996
Cristiana RadulescuFaculty of Sciences and Arts, Valahia University of Targoviste, 13 Sinaia Alley, 130004 Targoviste, Romania.ORCID 0000-0003-1208-7732
Raluca Maria Bucur PopaDoctoral School Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, National University of Science and Technology Politehnica of Bucharest, 060042 Bucharest, Romania.
Andreea Laura BanicaInstitute of Multidisciplinary Research for Science and Technology, Valahia University of Targoviste, 130004 Targoviste, Romania.ORCID 0000-0002-5780-4507
Ioan Alin BucuricaInstitute of Multidisciplinary Research for Science and Technology, Valahia University of Targoviste, 130004 Targoviste, Romania.ORCID 0000-0001-8346-7121
Ioana Daniela DulamaInstitute of Multidisciplinary Research for Science and Technology, Valahia University of Targoviste, 130004 Targoviste, Romania.ORCID 0000-0003-0200-0867

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

This research aimed to quantify and investigate the morphology of microplastics in skincare and treatment creams related to their chemical composition and the potential risks to human health associated with exposure to microplastics by dermal contact. A total of 21 skincare and treatment cream samples, indicating the target audience (men, women, and children) for each product, and potential diseases were analyzed in terms of the hidden risk of microplastics. To determine the exact number of microplastics to which adults and children are exposed over the course of a year, in-depth research was conducted on the cosmetic care and treatment products used by over 354 respondents from Romania. This study used a free, self-reported questionnaire method, which took into account consumer habits and preferences, as well as any potential medical conditions that could affect exposure. Optical microscopy and micro-FTIR revealed a total of 109 microplastics, with different sizes, colors, and shapes (i.e., fragments and fibers) and various chemical compositions, including mixtures of polymeric and natural structures, as well as 100% synthetic materials, e.g., polyethylene and polyester. The potential health risk of exposure to microplastics in certain cosmetic formulations for adults was assessed by calculating various risk indices, such as the polymer risk index (H), pollution load index (PLI), dermal plastic absorption (DPA), chronic daily dermal exposure (CDDE), risk to human health from dermal absorption (RHHDA), and estimated annual dermal absorption (EADA). These indices were calculated based on the medical conditions and application areas indicated on the labels of the analyzed creams (i.e., skincare and treatment), for both adult and children's categories, using the fingertip unit (FTU) method for estimating the cream amount. The plastic toxicity of the analyzed samples was assessed using the H and PLI indices. The risk of microplastics to human health from dermal exposure was assessed using the DPA, CDDE, RHHDA, and EADA indices, which showed concerning results regarding the presence of these particles in cosmetic formulations.

Indexed as

cosmetic formulationexposure pathwayhidden riskmicro-FTIRmicroplasticmorphology

Identifiers

PMID41745123
PMCPMC12941705

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.