Toxic Metals in Some Decorative Cosmetics and Nail Products

Abstract

Cosmetic marketing is one of the most profitable and fast increasing markets in Kurdistan Region of Iraq. In recent years, the use of cosmetics has witnessed a rapid increase, especially with the emergence of social media and its impact on this trade. The market is full of different cosmetic brands and nail products. Moderate and low-quality brands of cosmetic samples that available in the local markets were selected to investigate their heavy metals and chemical composition. Samples from face foundation, eye shadow, and nail polish products were taken and examined to evaluate the concentration of metals, that is, Hg, Pb, Cd, As, Mn, Cr, Ni, Co, Fe, Zn, Cu, and Al ions, using X-ray diffraction and X-ray fluorescence techniques. The examination results show high concentrations of Fe and Al metals in the lipstick samples whereas the Hg, Cd, Cr, and Ni were out of detection limit. Moreover, the results show contamination of Hg heavy metal in one of the examined nail polishes brands, whereas the rest of foundation and eye shadow samples show a higher concentration of Al and Fe. Curcumin, as a natural bio-friendly chelate, has been used to deplete metal ions using ultraviolet-visible Spectrophotometer.

Critical Review on Metal‐Based Cosmetic Products

“…XRF is used to analyze cosmetic samples to identify the amount of metal ions present, including heavy, necessary, and light metals like (Cd, Mn, Ni, Co, Fe, Hg, Cr, Zn As, Cu, Pb, and Al). [41] The basis of XRF is the detection of secondary, or fluorescence X rays released from a sample when it is exposed to high-energy X-rays. Materials can get ionized when they are excited with Xrays.…”

“…XRF is used to analyze cosmetic samples to identify the amount of metal ions present, including heavy, necessary, and light metals like (Cd, Mn, Ni, Co, Fe, Hg, Cr, Zn As, Cu, Pb, and Al). [ 41 ]…”

“…Materials’ XRD patterns exhibit distinctive diffraction peaks that identify the main component of the sample. [ 41 ] The X‐ray diffractometer is a useful instrument for the examination and testing of materials used in cosmetics, electronics, studies in nanomaterials, forensics, blood, food, and medicines. Constructive interference between a crystalline sample and monochromatic X rays is the basis principle of XRD.…”