Heavy Metal Levels in Commonly used Cosmetic Products in Asia

Background: The heavy metals such as lead, arsenic, mercury, aluminum, zinc, chromium, and iron are found in a wide variety of personal care products including lipstick, whitening toothpaste, eyeliner, and nail color. Aims and Objectives: The main aim of our study was to find out the heavy metals in routinely used cosmetics such as surma, kajal, lipsticks, rose powder, sindoor, and turmeric powder. Materials and Methods: Samples of commonly used personal care products, i.e., cosmetics such as surma, kajal, lipsticks, rose powder, sindoor, and turmeric powder of different companies were purchased from local markets of Pune and Mumbai. Heavy metals such as lead, arsenic, cadmium, mercury, and strontium were estimated by X-ray fluorescence spectrometry from cosmetics of different companies. Results: The lead level was very high in surma and other cosmetics, i.e., kajal, lipsticks, sindoor powder, cheek rose powder, and turmeric powder are also contained the detectable amount of lead. Arsenic, cadmium, and mercury levels were also very high in surma samples. Strontium levels were above the level of detection in almost all the samples of cosmetics. Conclusions: All the cosmetics contained lead and strontium heavy metals. The absorption of these heavy metals might be more and affects all organs and systems. It is very essential to see the status of heavy metals in the blood, creating awareness and preventing the use of such cosmetics.