Assessment of some heavy metals in selected cosmetics commonly used in Bangladesh and human health risk

M F Alam,F T Ahmed,A Ferdous,T Taheri,M Akhter,A K M Atique Ullah,N C Dafader,M D Hossain,B Mazumder,S K Kundu

doi:10.1186/s40543-018-0162-0

Abstract

In Bangladesh, use of beauty cream is very much popular and a common daily task for the people. The current study is focusing on the assessment of some toxic heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, chromium, and mercury contamination in some beauty creams commonly used by Bangladeshi people. The results indicate that the concentrations of lead, cadmium, and chromium exceed the maximum allowable concentrations, whereas mercury is found below the acceptable limit set by WHO/EU. However, according to Health Canada, the concentrations of cadmium and chromium for all the selected samples (except cadmium in sample coded A) was within the permissible limit. Health risks associated with these metal intakes via dermal exposure route are evaluated in terms of chronic daily intake (CDI) and hazard quotient (HQ). The carcinogenic risk (CR) estimated for chromium indicates that it is within the acceptable range. The cancer and non-cancer risk results indicate that although the chances of cancer risk and non-cancer risk resulting from the use of these cosmetic products were unlikely, buildup of these toxic heavy metals overtime on continuous usage could be detrimental for Bangladeshi people.

Highlights

Cosmetics have been used as a part of routine body care by all classes of people throughout the world
As the use of cosmetic products is increasing rapidly in Bangladesh and various chemicals including the heavy metals are used in the cosmetics which pose health risk to consumers, the aim of the present study is to assess toxic metals like lead, cadmium, chromium, and mercury in some fairness creams highly used by the Bangladeshi people and their effect on human health
Concentrations of toxic metals in cosmetics Heavy metals have been implicated in cosmetics that are commonly used by women (Popoola et al 2013; Ramakant et al 2014)

Summary

Introduction

Cosmetics have been used as a part of routine body care by all classes of people throughout the world. They are classified as any item intended to be rubbed, poured, sprinkled or sprayed on, or introduced into or otherwise applied to the human body or any part of the body for cleansing, beautifying, promoting attractiveness, or altering the appearance, and include any item intended for use as a component of cosmetics (Drug and Cosmetic Act 1940). Many cosmetic products contain heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, chromium, arsenic, mercury, cobalt, and nickel as ingredients or impurities. It is legally prohibited to use lead, arsenic, and mercury in skin cosmetic products (Hostynek 2000). The metals of primary toxicological concern in cosmetics are lead, cadmium, arsenic, chromium, mercury, and antimony (Sainio et al 2000). Dermal exposure is expected to be the most significant route for cosmetic products since the majority of

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