The aim of this study was to conduct the Pharmacovigilance (PvPi) of cosmeceuticals. On comparing with the previous evaluations, the present studies are indicative of significant decrease of heavy metal levels (Pb, Ar, Cd, Ni, Cr, and Co) now. Lead is a highly toxic substance that can enter into brain and damage neurons and hence leads to decrease in intellect, particularly in case of children. Also, when lead gets into a person’s body, it damages red blood cells in the blood stream and lowers their oxygen-carrying capacity to required tissues, which results in anemia. This study was focused on estimation of heavy metals present in lipsticks and hair colorants, manufactured in the year 2015, and available in Delhi-NCR. The sources of contaminations are more likely to be at the raw-stage levels where unauthenticated ingredients are used. The exposure and use of cosmetics containing heavy metals can be dangerous to health and status of the people, followed by causing huge effect on the economy of any country.
Heavy metals are widely spread in mineral rocks, soil, and water, such as zinc, calcium, and iron. Their absorption causes various metabolic as well as systemic disorders [1]. Drugs are taken to cure an illness, whereas cosmetics are used, by the person of all age group, to enhance their beauty. Beauty consciousness has led to the development of various new types of cosmetic products, and this development has caught the interest of clinicians and scientists to govern the effects and side effects both. For imparting color shades to the various cosmeceuticals, mineral rocks and pearls are used e.g. Quinazarine Green SS, Tartrazine, Erythrosine etc [2].
Lead affects every other system in a human body including reproductive, neurological, and hematopoieticsystem [3]. Lead affects hematopoietic systems by preventing the synthesis of hemoglobin by the inhibition of various key enzymes involved in the heme synthesis. It is said that the apoptosis may be associated with the oxidative stress induced by lead absorption and DNA damage [4]. The body deposits 90% of the lead in bones, which increases bone turnover in women. Lead crosses placenta during pregnancy and has been associated with intrauterine fetal death, premature delivery, and low birth weight. Lead is absorbed through skin by absorption directly via inhalation, ingestion, or skin contact occasionally. In adults, about 35-40% of inhaled lead dust is deposited in lungs and about 60% of that goes into bloodstream [4].
Arsenic has the properties of metalloid. Exposure is associated with the complications related to peripheral neuropathy and may cause gangrene. After the absorption, arsenic remains stored in liver, kidney, heart, and lungs, whereas the lower amount is found in muscles and neural tissues causing toxicity.
Cobalt, generally found as cobaltous (+2) and cobaltic (+3) states in nature, is a trace element such as iron and nickel in terms of properties. Cobalt is an essential component of vitamin B12 [5]. B12 is a bioavailable form of cobalt since vitamins couldn’t be synthesized from dietary cobalt. Excess amount of cobalt leads to carcinogenicity in humans cobalt penetration is shown by an effective barrier in stratum corneum absorption depends on counter ion [6].
Chromium is hazardous in nature even in a very small quantity. It is genotoxic and hepatotoxic in nature [7].
Nickel is another trace element, whose inhalation enhances GI exposure and oral intake increases the sensitization response. Penetration rates of nickel through skin are retarded due to the special ability for keratin. In some people who are sensitive may develop dermatitis too.
Cadmium is a highly toxic element for human body even at low levels. Cadmium and lead can cause significant reduction in gonadotropin binding, which altered the steroidogenic enzyme activity.
Product |
Batch No |
MFG |
Lead conc/1gm |
Arsenic |
Cadmium |
Cobalt |
Nickel |
Chromium |
|
BY |
(ppm) |
(ppm) |
(ppm) |
(ppm) |
(ppm) |
||||
Jenero (violet) |
425/cos |
Nagar cosmetics |
6.53 |
2.635 |
7.52 |
2.083 |
2.43 |
0.63 |
|
Elle 18 (brown) |
mdnh/B-019 |
Hindustan Unilever Limited |
10.069 |
2.105 |
6.25 |
2.105 |
3.02 |
0.326 |
|
Elle 18(red) |
B-116 |
Hindustan Unilever Limited |
12.382 |
2.105 |
7.14 |
2.104 |
1.62 |
0.861 |
|
Elle 18 (light brown) |
B-106 |
Hindustan Unilever Limited |
9.865 |
2.104 |
7.89 |
2.057 |
1.62 |
0.621 |
|
Elle 18 (reddish brown) |
B-013 |
Hindustan Unilever Limited |
7.62 |
3.14 |
7.965 |
2.184 |
2.4 |
0.15 |
|
Elle 18 (orange red) |
B-045 |
Hindustan Unilever Limited |
5.987 |
0.734 |
3.858 |
2.064 |
1.02 |
0.862 |
|
Beauty face (brown) |
495/cos |
- |
8.096 |
3.01 |
6.047 |
2.251 |
1.02 |
1.62 |
|
Lakme Enrich (satin red) |
B125 |
Hindustan Unilever Limited |
13.063 |
3.14 |
7.25 |
2.111 |
1.02 |
0.965 |
|
L’OréalParis (pure rouge) |
72M203 |
6.055 |
2.095 |
4.466 |
2.09 |
0.67 |
0.265 |
||
Maxford lips (red) |
0033/12/cm |
1.769 |
2.489 |
6.952 |
2.034 |
1.26 |
0.987 |
||
Janero (dark brown) |
Na |
Nagar cosmetics |
5.68 |
3.593 |
4.456 |
2.259 |
1.35 |
0.569 |
|
Janero (chocolate) |
1550/cos |
Nagar cosmetics |
4.59 |
2.259 |
6.072 |
2.157 |
2.123 |
0.253 |
|
Mab (red) |
Na |
4.8932 |
1.3157 |
0.3209 |
0.3181 |
9.6843 |
0.35 |
||
Permissible limit |
20ppm |
3ppm |
15 ppm |
5 ppm |
5 ppm |
2 ppm |
Table 1: Analysis results.
Note: Results shows the analysis of 1gm of lipstick, whereas one pack of lipstick consists of at least 2g of lipstick color. Hence, concentration per pack = Analyzed values x2.In this study, a topical issue of heavy metal concentration in lipstick brands was evaluated and investigated. We can say that the presence of heavy metals (i.e., Pb, Co, Ni, Cr, Ar, and Cd) is due to the ingredients, such as waxes, polishes, emollients, dye pigments, antioxidants, oils, and filling materials, for example, mica, silica, or titanium dioxide.
Limits as per Rule 144 (D & C 1940) says the permitted synthetic organic colors and natural organic colors used in the cosmetic shall not contain more than 2 parts per million of arsenic calculated as arsenic trioxide. Whereas 20 parts per million of lead is calculated as lead.
However, According to rule 145 of drugs and cosmetic act the use of lead and Arsenic compounds for the purpose of coloring cosmetics is prohibited.
The presence of heavy metal in product like lipstick and other cosmetics may cause harm to females and other population exposed. The long-term effects of heavy metal emit carcinogenicity, and metals like nickel accumulates in our organs, such as kidney and liver, leading to toxicity. Here a need of cosmetovigilance rises to understand the Serious Undesirable Effects (SUE) and various noticed, un-noticed side effects.
On the comparison with the study conducted in 2014, these results are significantly having lower concentration of lead. However, the arsenic levels are increased [8].
Manufacturers should avoid the use of any such ingredient, which is composed of heavy metal adulteration, such as water or waxes.
The exposure and use of cosmetics with heavy metals can become an economic burden for multi organ dysfunction and danger to health and status of the people globally, followed by causing big effect on the economy of any country. However, it’s needed to do quality control and analysis for heavy metals.
The sources of contaminations are more likely to be at the raw stage levels where unauthenticated ingredients are used.
Along with the raw ingredients water is another mode of contamination. Water generally consists of minerals and along with that carries heavy metals. The use of improper and not tested water raises the risk of increased levels.Compliance and premarketing testing should be mandatory.
Delhi institute of pharmaceutical sciences and research, Delhi is gratefully acknowledged.
Citation: Agrawal SS, Kaushik N (2016) The Evaluation of the Presence of Heavy Metals in Various Lipstick Brands (2015) Available in Delhi-NCR: A Risk Assessment. J Clin Dermatol Ther 4: 027.
Copyright: © 2016 SS Agrawal, et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.