Assessment of level of toxic heavy metal (PB) in local and foreign brands of lipsticks in FCT, Abuja, Nigeria

Abstract

This study determined toxic heavy metal concentration in Local and Foreign brands of lipsticks sold in FCT, Abuja Nigeria. The study analyzed twenty (20) samples of lipsticks comprising of ten (10) Local and ten (10) Foreign brands for Lead using flame atomic absorption spectrophotometric (FAAS) method. The mean concentration range of Lead in both the Local and the Foreign lipstick samples and their estimated daily intake by average users are 22-714.70 μg/g and 74.9-47927μg/g with the estimated daily intake by the average users as 1.056- 34.305 μg/g (Local samples) and 3.595 – 2300.496 μg/g. (Foreign), while the estimated daily intake by high users are 3.828 – 124.358 μg/g (Local) and 13.023 – 8339.298 μg/g (Foreign).The estimated concentration of Lead ingested daily intake in the Local and the Foreign samples indicated 20% and 70% of the samples were not safe for the average users. While the ingested daily intake in the Local and the Foreign samples indicated 50% and 90% of the samples were also not safe for high users as compared to WHO limit (20 μg/g) for Lead specified in cosmetic. Thus, continuous usage of these lipsticks can increase rate of exposure of the body system to Lead related disease conditions such as cancer which is known to be detrimental.

Keywords: Lipstick, Lead, AAS, Health hazard