Tanzania Journal of Science 46(3): 779-790, 2020 ISSN 0856-1761, e-ISSN 2507-7961 © College of Natural and Applied Sciences, University of Dar es Salaam, 2020 Levels and Exposure Risks of Lead, Arsenic and Mercury from Selected Lipstick and Nail Polish Cosmetics Marketed in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania Gerald S Kulwa1,2 and Matobola J Mihale2* 1Tanzania Medicines and Medical Devices Authority, P. O. Box 77150, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. E-mail: [email protected] 2Department of Physical Sciences, Open University of Tanzania, P. O. Box 23409, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. E-mail: [email protected] *Correspondence E-mail: [email protected] Received 18 June 2020, Revised 1 October 2020, Accepted 3 Oct 2020, Published Oct 2020 Abstract Presence of Pb, As and Hg in selected lipstick and nail polish cosmetics sold at different shopping malls and retail outlets in Dar es Salaam was determined by microwave plasma atomic emission spectrometry due to their public health effects. Pb was detected in 100% (n = 25) of lipsticks and 53.3% (n = 15) of nail polishes. Arsenic was detected in 36% of lipsticks and 86.7% of nail polishes, and Hg was detected in 44% of lipsticks and 80% of nail polishes. All metal levels in both cosmetics were below the World Health Organisation (WHO) and Tanzania Bureau of Standards (TBS) maximum recommended limits. Health-based risks were evaluated using chronic daily intake (CDI), non-carcinogenic hazard quotient (HQ), hazard index (HI) as well as carcinogenic total risk. CDI values in all cosmetics were lower than maximum tolerable daily intake (MTDI). HQs of all metals in most of the lipsticks and all nail polishes were < 1, indicating little health risks. Both HI and carcinogenic risk were lower, indicating that they are relatively safe and have little potential carcinogenic risk. Determined potential carcinogenic risks were lower, indicating little carcinogenic risk. Awareness of potential effects and continuous monitoring are recommended to raise awareness of consumers and control quality of cosmetics as metals are cumulative toxicants. Keywords: Heavy metal, lipstick, nail polish, Tanzania, cosmetics. Introduction of cosmetics in combination may be Cosmetics are used daily and are applied associated with continuous exposure and on the thinnest parts of the body such as lips health risks particularly in less developed and nails (Corazza et al. 2009). Heavy metals countries (Järup 2003). For example, metals such as Pb, As and Hg are the common in lipsticks can be easily swallowed constituents as either impurities or accidentally during eating, and metals in nail ingredients (Alam et al. 2019). Since metals polish can reach the body via porous in the cosmetic products are usually water keratinised nails (Ouremi and Ayodele 2014). soluble, their absorption is likely to be very As a result, avoiding exposure to heavy high (Corazza et al. 2009). Both lipsticks and metals through the skin, food, air or water is nail polishes are used worldwide and their difficult (Ouremi and Ayodele 2014). uses are increasing day after day. On the Heavy metals are known to accumulate other hand, continuous use as well as the use (Alam et al. 2019) and are known to be toxic 779 http://journals.udsm.ac.tz/index.php/tjs www.ajol.info/index.php/tjs/ Kulwa and Mihale - Levels and exposure risks of lead, arsenic and mercury … when there is excessively high intake (Çelik Various studies have been conducted to and Oehlenschläger 2007). The nature of evaluate the levels and/ or exposure of heavy effects could be chronic toxicity. Examples of metals in lipstick and nail polish cosmetics. chronic toxic effects include neurotoxic, Among the heavy metals Pb, As and Hg are carcinogenic, mutagenic or teratogenic of concern to public health due to the effects (Linnik 2000, Radwan and Salama cumulative toxic effects and risks on 2006, Duruibe et al. 2007). Heavy metals exposure. Studies conducted in the Middle toxicity can result to damaged or reduced East and West African countries have mental and central nervous functions, lower revealed presence of these metals in different energy levels and damage to blood lipstick and nail polish cosmetics. For composition, lungs, liver, kidneys and other example, a study by Adepoju-Bello et al. vital organs (Linnik 2000). Lead (Pb), for (2012) revealed that Pb was detected in all example, is a common contaminant in various lipsticks sold in Nigeria at concentration cosmetic products (Chauhan et al. 2010, range of 0.017–0.09 ppm. Similarly, Al- Ahmed et al. 2016, Alam et al. 2019). Pb Qutob et al. (2013) observed that lipsticks toxicity may lead to anaemia, neuropathy, sold in Palestina contained Pb up to 15.92 ± nephropathy, sterility, coma, behavioural 1.61 ppm. Furthermore, lipsticks sold in abnormalities, learning impairment, Saudi Arabia were observed to contain Pb of decreased hearing and impaired cognitive up to 0.039 ppm (Al-Qahtani et al. 2016). functions (Nnorom et al. 2005). In addition Higher levels of Pb of up to 18.21 ± 0.08 Pb can cause low birth weight, premature ppm were observed in lipsticks sold in delivery as well as intrauterine death (Al- Kaduna, Nigeria (Nasirudeen and Amaechi et Saleh et al. 2009). Arsenic (As) is used in al. 2015). Rahil et al. (2019) also observed various products including textiles, that lipsticks sold in Libya contained Pb up to preservative and pigments (Agency for Toxic 7.95 ± 2.76 ppm. Similarly, Adepoju-Bello et Substances and Disease Registry, ATSDR al. (2012) observed the presence of As and 2007). Long-term exposure effects of arsenic Hg contents in lipsticks sold in Nigeria. may lead to skin effects, circulatory and Levels of As and Hg were at concentration peripheral nervous disorders as well as ranges of 0.006–0.031 and 0.009–0.207 ppm, increased lung, gastrointestinal tract and respectively. In addition, Al-Qahtani et al. urinary system cancer risks (ATSDR 2007, (2016) observed that As in the selected Omolaoye et al. 2010, Ahmed et al. 2016). lipsticks sold in Saudi Arabia ranged from Mercury (Hg) is a common ingredient in skin 0.00093 to 0.15398. ppm, while Hg ranged lightening soaps, nail polishes and creams from ND to 1.52 ppm. Al-Qahtani et al. (Sin and Tsang 2003). Absorption of Hg (2016) also observed that the levels were through the skin may result to renal varying depending on the costs of the neurological and dermal toxicity, headache, cosmetics. The levels of Pb and As in nail insomnia, memory loss, irritability, polishes were also detected by Karimi and abdominal discomfort, nervousness, joint Ziarati (2015) in nail polishes sold in Iran. pain, weakness, nausea as well as hand The Pb levels in these cosmetics were tremor (Sin and Tsang 2003). Despite these observed to range from 1.0 to 33.8 ppm, health risks, the available regulations on while As ranged from 0.23 to 5.89 ppm. cosmetics have set no exact limit of the heavy Levels of Pb up to 42.14 ppm have been metal contents in cosmetics (Sainio et al. detected in nail polishes sold in Nigeria 2000), neither there are no universal (Ouremi and Ayodele (2014). legislation governing presence of heavy There is an increasing trade of lipsticks metals in cosmetics (Borowska and Brzóska and nail polish cosmetics in Tanzania that are 2015). imported from different countries and from 780 Tanz. J. Sci. Vol. 46(3), 2020 various manufacturers. The qualities of the Sampling different cosmetics are not known with Purposive sampling was employed to obtain certainty. This is because the availability of lipstick and nail polish samples from heavy metals in almost every cosmetic different shopping malls and retail outlets in product as impurities is inevitable (Rahil et Dar es Salaam in March, 2019. A total of al. 2019). In addition, their identity as well as forty (40) samples were obtained, which the amount in a given cosmetic product are included twenty five (25) samples of lipsticks not indicated during the manufacturing and and fifteen (15) of nail polishes. To keep the labelling. This increases the risks of brand names anonymous, all lipstick samples consumers’ exposure to heavy metals in a were coded LS (LS01–LS25) and nail polish cumulative basis. The availability of many samples were coded NP (NP01–NP15). The new cosmetic products on the market further samples were stored at room temparature compounds the problem and makes necessary before processsing in the laboratory. to have continuous monitoring on a regular basis. Sample preparation There is no documented study on the Prior to sample preparation, all containers quality of lipsticks and nail polishes sold in and glassware were thoroughly cleaned with retail shops in Tanzania at large and Dar es liquid detergent, warm water and rinsed with Salaam in particular. Furthermore, the levels distilled water. Then, they were soaked in of heavy metals in the cosmetic products sold 10% HNO3 (analytical grade) overnight in Tanzania are not known in comparison before rinsing with distilled water. All the with the WHO and TBS maximum set lipstick and nail polish samples were standards. Moreover, the exposure risks of prepared in triplicate according to a method the heavy metals in cosmetics sold in described by Kratochvil (2003). Each lipstick Tanzania are not understood. Therefore, this and nail polish (0.50 g) was measured in a study was intended to assess the quality of Teflon container. Then concentrated nitric selected lipsticks and nail polishes sold at acid (4 mL) and 30% hydrogen peroxide (1 different shopping malls and retail outlets in mL) were added and the container closed. Dare es Salaam by determining the levels of After 15 min of reaction, the mixture was Pb, As and Hg and comparing them with the microwave digested at the temperature WHO and TBS maximum set standards.