Question

32.

Many compounds found in hygiene products are known to pose severe health risks. Other compounds are known to increase the absorptiveness of these hygiene products into the skin.                                                                                       

1. Explain if using these compounds together would make them safer or more dangerous and why.     (2 marks)

2. Microbeads are very small plastic pieces found in some facial scrubs. Many countries have banned the use of microbeads because they are being found in the flesh of fish and can absorb other compounds from the water. State and support your opinion on banning these substances.   (2 marks)

3. The skin is a membrane that it made of mostly non-polar molecules. Identify and explain the properties of a compound that can cross the skin easily.                   

Answer 1

1. Using the harmful substances along with the compounds that make it easier for the harmful substances to be absorbed means that there is more harm being done. You are effectively increasing the chances of the toxic substance to cause bodily harm

2. Microbeads need to banned as the fact that they are found in fish means that consumption of these fish means that our body accumulates microplastics which are not safe. Also since our body does not metabolise plastics, these substances accumulate in our body, magnifying the harmful effects.

3. Non-polar molecules allow other small non-polar molecules to penetrate their membrane and pass through.