Heavy metals in local and imported cosmetics in Ghana and their health risk assessment

Abstract

: This study aimed to determine the levels of heavy metal(loid)s in local and imported cosmetics purchased from the Kejetia market and to conduct their health risk assessment. Seven (7) metal(loid)s (Pb, Cd, As, Fe, Ni, Cr, and Hg) were analyzed in twenty-one (21) cosmetic samples. Atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) was used in this study. Some of the metal(loid)s in imported cosmetic samples were higher than those found in local cosmetic samples. However, there was no significant difference between the concentrations of the metal(loid)s in both local and imported cosmetic samples. The margin of safety (MoS) values for all the metal(loid)s in the cosmetics sample were below the WHO standard of 100. The HQ and HI values for almost all the metal(loid)s in the cosmetic samples were greater than their permissible limit of 1, suggesting that there may be health risks associated with using cosmetic samples for the sensitive sub-population. On the other hand, carcinogenic risk (CR) for Cr and As in local and imported cream and lotion were all higher than the tolerance levels. Moreover, from the results, the Pb, Cd, and Hg concentrations were higher than the acceptable permissible limits set by the various regulatory bodies. Cosmetic manufacturing industries are encouraged to adhere to the permissible limits set by regulators. We admonish the regulatory agencies to unforce regulations on permissible limits of heavy metals in cosmetics

Keywords:

• Hazards
• toxicity
• health
• regulatory
• margin of safety
• cosmetics products

PUBLIC INTEREST STATEMENT

This paper assessed the levels of heavy metals and metalloid in some cosmetic samples purchased from the market in Kumasi, Ghana. This is done to determine whether the amounts in the cosmetics can affect those who use the cosmetics that contain them. Heavy metals are toxic, persistent, does not break down and are harmful to humans even at low levels. They are stable and have the ability to impart colour. Therefore, they are employed in cosmetics. It was observed that the levels of these heavy metals in the cosmetics analysed were higher than their acceptable limits. The levels were also high that there is the potential for them to cause health hazards to sensitive people when they are used extensively over long periods. All cosmetics products irrespective of their country of manufacture are supposed to be used with care.

Acknowledgments

This study received no funding but the authors are grateful to Akenten Appiah-Menka University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development for allowing the use of their laboratory for some of the analysis

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Data availability statement

The data is found in the manuscript or immediately available from the authors

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.