ABSTRACT Care product materials may have heavy metals. Newborns are quickly affected by heavy metals. Therefore, harmful heavy metals in these materials are a matter of concern. So, 36 samples of care product materials (baby powder, shampoo with soap, and cream) were collected from local Iraqi markets and Pharmacies to measure the concentrations of heavy metals (Pb, Cd, and Cr). Also, health risk parameters (non-carcinogens and carcinogens) such as chronic Daily Intake (CDI), Hazard Quotient (HQ), Hazard Index (HI), Cancer Risk (CR), and Total Cancer Risk (TCR) were calculated. Heavy metals (Pb, Cd, and Cr) were measured using atomic absorption spectrometry. The average concentrations of Pb, Cd, and Cr in units of ppm were found in the baby powder samples at 4.41 ± 1.01 ppm, 0.71 ± 0.05 ppm, and 1.42 ± 0.14 ppm, respectively. Shampoo with soap samples were 2.21 ± 0.86 ppm, 0.50 ± 0.05 ppm, and 0.89 ± 0.03 ppm, respectively. For cream samples, they were 16.45 ± 14.33 ppm, 0.45 ± 0.10 ppm, and 1.42 ± 0.09 ppm, respectively. The average values of HI and TCRx10−6 were found in the baby powder samples at 0.038 ± 0.004 and 40.11 ± 2.48, respectively. Shampoo with soap samples were 0.048 ± 0.008 and 59.34 ± 5.94, respectively. For cream samples, they were 0.051 ± 0.036 and 16.81 ± 3.41, respectively. The non-carcinogens and carcinogens of health risk indexes due to Pb, Cd, and Cr from care product materials samples used for newborns in Iraq were within the safe limits according to organisations Association of South East Asian Nations(ASEAN), Health Canada, and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Therefore, it can be concluded that there is a low risk of heavy metals in care products materials for Newborns in Iraq.
Read full abstract