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Updated 08 Jan, 2017

Samples of locally manufactured cosmetics collected from various parts of the city have been found contaminated with heavy metals by a recent study, warning of their serious adverse health effects.

Titled Heavy metal assessment in cosmetic products available in Karachi, the study was conducted at the Institute of Environmental Studies of Karachi University (IES, KU).

Under the study, supervised by senior KU teacher Dr Moazzam Ali Khan, samples of hair colour, eye-shadow, lipstick and kohl (five samples each) were collected at Sunday bazaars held in various localities with few branded cosmetics. They were analysed to check the presence of lead, nickel, chromium, iron, zinc and copper.

Sharing its findings, Dr Aamir Alamgir, an assistant professor at the IES, KU, said: “Though a preliminary study, the research findings carry a strong message for the masses to limit the use of cosmetics, if they can’t give it up completely. Repeated exposure to these heavy metals increases vulnerability to a range of diseases, including cancer. Pregnant women are especially at risk.”

Data source: 'Heavy metal assessment in cosmetic products available in Karachi' by IES, KU
Data source: 'Heavy metal assessment in cosmetic products available in Karachi' by IES, KU

According to him, there are no national or international standards on impurities like heavy metals in cosmetics except 20 for lead and 5lg/g for cadmium set by some countries.

The maximum limits set by the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation for lead is 10ppm, arsenic 3ppm, cadmium 3ppm, mercury 3ppm and antimony 5ppm.

“All these are maximum limits. This means the relevant contaminants have been seen to produce a toxic effect, if they cross this level in the body, irrespective of their source,” he said, adding that heavy metals in cosmetics were known to cause severe health problems as they entered the skin and got accumulated in different organs through blood.

Ideally, all cosmetic products should be free of heavy metals, he said.

Some findings

The mean concentration of lead in hair colour samples ranged from 4.2ppm to 9.22ppm. None of the samples exceeded the Canadian safe limits for cosmetics but given the fact that there are no actual guidelines for heavy metals in cosmetics, one product with mean concentration of 9.22ppm might be reasonably toxic.

“This can prove to be highly lethal and may cause chronic cancerous disease if used repeatedly,” it says.

The mean concentration of lead in samples of eye-shadow ranged between 16.19ppm and 24.636ppm.

Lead in lipstick samples was below the mark of toxicity; the highest value of lead was seen in only one product with mean concentration 7.176ppm. The maximum and minimum values were 7.176ppm and 9.31ppm.

The highest mean concentration of lead in face-powder samples was 6.276ppm. The lead levels in kohl samples were high; they ranged between 15.328ppm and 22.786ppm.

The highest concentration of chromium found in lipstick and eye-shadow samples was 2.33ppm and 1.59ppm, respectively.

The highest concentration of nickel was 4.8ppm which was found in an eye-shadow sample.

Kohl samples exceeded the safe limits for cadmium whereas only one lipstick sample had indicated high mean concentration of cadmium.


Originally published in Dawn, January 8th, 2017

Comments

Truth Jan 08, 2017 01:31pm
Ah, so Heavy Metal is not just a type of Rock Band! Thankfully, some of us care for neither.. Natural beauty has not equal.
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ABE Jan 08, 2017 01:36pm
Be specially weary of Chinese made cosmetics, toiletries and beauty products, The Americans and Europeans do not allow import of such products from many countries ,- including China, India, Thailand, Vietnam and African nations into their territories precisely for lack of standards. Many of the ingredients are toxic and have found to be harmful during lab tests. Few people have been disfigured, scared and have allergic reaction, due to toxic materials contained in third-world made items, which use materials without proper research.
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Juanid Jan 08, 2017 01:49pm
Locally grown vegetables around suburban Karachi areas also contain high levels of heavy metals due to toxic sewage water used for irrigation.
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Aan a Jan 08, 2017 01:53pm
Only use certificated global brands. Wish automatically health
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Farooq ali Jan 08, 2017 03:38pm
This report is misleading as the limit of lead of 10 ppm is for oral products and not for topicals and local applications in which cosmetics fall ,further the limit of lead varies from country to country and agency to agency, and it is different from one nation to other, what methods of testings were used is also not known as some nations have permitted even 15 ppm for oral products.
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Farooq ali Jan 08, 2017 03:42pm
@Aan a. Global brands are not produced by angels !!!
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Ehsan Jan 08, 2017 09:08pm
How about testing some foreign brands for comparison so there is no selection bias.
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Christena 421 Jan 09, 2017 01:36pm
I am with you miss diya ali , I always look at Pakistani fashion and am impressed with Pakistani beauty and fashion.
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