A new report indicates that existing waste water treatment systems are not designed to remove chemicals in personal care products and as such they are seeping into the water system. The authors claimed that “It is likely, even probably definite that very many chemicals and their intermediary degradation products are entering most rivers continuously.”

The study also stated that “The fate and transport of nanomaterials in the environment is of growing concern and there isn’t any legislation at the moment to control its production.” The report from the UK Royal Society of Chemistry states that more research is needed into the chemicals, especially those that were ‘previously ignored and emerging contaminants’ used in cosmetic and personal care products.