ScholarWorks@중앙대학교

초록

Alpha-hexylcinnamaldehyde (HCA) and 3-(4-tert-butylphenyl)-2-methylpropanal (Lilial) are widely used synthetic fragrance aldehydes found in personal care and household products. Individually, HCA is primarily recognized as a weak skin sensitizer with mild cytotoxic potential, whereas Lilial has been classified as a Category 1B reproductive toxicant under the European Union Classification, Labeling and Packaging (CLP) Regulation due to evidence of reproductive and developmental toxicity. Despite regulatory restrictions in parts of Europe, both compounds continue to be detected globally in consumer products, and co-occurrence within fragrance formulations has been documented. Although their individual toxicological profiles have been investigated, limited information exists regarding their potential combined effects. Mechanistically, HCA is an α,β-unsaturated aldehyde capable of Michael addition with nucleophilic residues, while Lilial is a saturated aromatic aldehyde that may form reversible Schiff base adducts. Both compounds have been associated with oxidative stress, mitochondrial damage, and modulation of endocrine-related pathways. Emerging mixture data suggests that co-exposure may influence steroidogenesis and cellular stress responses beyond what is observed for individual compounds, although experimental evidence remains limited. This review synthesizes available in vitro, in vivo, mechanistic, and regulatory data on HCA and Lilial, examines plausible interaction pathways including electrophile-mediated protein modification and metabolic competition, and identifies key gaps requiring mixture-oriented investigation. Greater integration of mechanistic toxicology with cumulative risk assessment frameworks is needed to better reflect real-world co-exposure scenarios involving fragrance aldehydes.

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