Determination and risk assessment of toxic metals in lipsticks from Europe and China.

Background: The presence of toxic toxic metals in lipstick can pose a health risk to many consumers of this type of cosmetics, especially for women. Thus, the aim of this study was to assess consequences attributed to dermal and oral exposure to toxic metals in lipsticks manufactured in China and Europe as determined by non-cancer and cancer risks assessment models from SCCS and USEPA, respectively.

Method: The treatment of the samples was carried out by calcination using muffle furnaces and the determination of Al, Cd and Pb were determined by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES).

Concentrations: The concentration of Cd and Pb in the study samples does not exceed the limits stablished for the FDA (00,228 mg kg·day for Cd and 000,343 mg kg·day for Pb, respectively) but they do not comply with the Regulation of the European Parliament, which prohibits the presence of these two metals in cosmetics. Neither European Union nor United States have established maximum levels for Al in cosmetics.

Conclusions: The cancer risk assessment of Cd and Pb metals resulted in a total cancer risk less than 1. The results of non-cancer oral risk assessment for Pb had a MoS result of 88 for China and 62 for Europe, suggesting that Pb poses a risk for the human health, especially in samples manufactured in Europe.