Heavy Metals in Lipstick Products Marketed in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

The present study reports the content of 14 heavy metals (Al, Fe, Ti, Ag, As, Ba, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn) in twenty-two (n = 22) lipstick products of imported and locally manufactured at the local market in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia using Inductivity Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectrophotometer (ICP-OES). The overall average contents of Al, Fe, Ti, Ag, As, Ba, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn were 3131.18 ± 0.09, 9642.92 ± 0.079, 46.59 ± 0.109, 0.545 ± 0.009, 2.041 ± 0.024, 1371.439 ± 0.085, 0.134 ± 0.008, 4.242 ± 0.02, ND, 3.934 ± 0.03, 19.712 ± 0.012, 20.196 ± 0.056, 0.725 ± 0.012, and 858.666 ± 0.083 μg/g, respectively. The correction coefficient of the results is up to 0.9995, showing an excellent linear relationship between metal concentrations in samples. The results also revealed that, the total concentrations of toxic metals in various samples ranged from 1201.35 -60,800.36 μg/g. The dark-colored lipstick samples 1B, 2B, 3B, 4B, 5B, 7B, B8, 9B, and 10B revealed high content of total toxic metals compared to the light-colored lipstick samples 1A, 2A, 3A, 4A, 4C, 5A, 7A, 8A, 9A, and 10A. The concentrations of Al, Fe, Ba, and Zn in the samples within each class under investigation are relatively high whereas the concentrations of Ag, As, Cd, Co, Cu, and Pb are lowest; and Ti, Mn, and Ni contents were below 100 μg/g. Chromium was not detected in any sample. Since no safe limits for most of these metals relating to cosmetic products are available in Saudi Arabia, it is hard to ascertain whether the values obtained in this study are relatively high or low. Prolonged use of products containing these elements may pose a threat to human health and could damage the environment.

Analysis of heavy metals in different brands of lipsticks sold in Enugu Metropolis, Nigeria and their potential health risks to users

“…Zainy 24 , reported a higher mean value of 20.1960.056 μg/g for Ni lipstick products in Saudi Arabian market than what was obtained for the metal in sample brands S5 and S6 in this study. Her reported value on Ni was equally lower than what was reported for the metal in sample brands S1, S2, S3 and S4 in this study.…”

“…Suleiman and Labaran, 16 obtained a lower mean value of 0.133μg/g for As in selected lipstick samples sold within Bauchi metropolis than reported for the metal in this study. Zainy et al 24 reported a higher mean value of 2.0410.024 μg/g for As in lipstick samples produced and marketed in Saudi Arabia than obtained for the metal in lipstick sample brands, S7, S3, S6 and S7 in this study.…”

Investigation of Mercury and Titanium Contents in Skin Whitening Creams Commonly Used in Yemen by Icp-MS

“…The highest concentration of titanium found in 1A cream (59.44 µg/g) was found to be lower than maximum value of skin whitening cosmetics (2749 µg/g, 187 µg/g, and 1418 µg/g) for ALqadami et al, [21], Faten [12], and Sa Liu et al, [34], respectively.…”

“…The fact that, when heavy metal ions come into contact with the human body, they are absorbed and form complexes with the carboxylic acids (-COOH), amines (-NH2), and thiols (-SH) of proteins, results in cell damage, death and/or leads to a variety of diseases. Treatment for metal intoxication usually involves a chelating agent that binds with the metal ions to form complexes that are then removed from the body [11,12].…”

“…Mercury-containing skin-lightening cosmetics tested in a variety of countries, for example, Saudi Arabia [12,16,21,22], Nigeria [23], Mexico [24], Canada [25], Germany [26], Ghana [27], Hong Kong [28], India [4], and USA [29]. In Yemen published a few studies on cosmetics, including a study to evaluate the levels of hydroquinone in some skin whitening creams [30], and another study on assessing the levels of some heavy metals such as arsenic, nickel, cobalt, and copper in skin cosmetics [31].…”