Abstract
Abstract
Polluted cosmetics with heavy metals have become a serious issue; consequently, researching this topic has become interesting. This study aims to determine the heavy metal content in 20 cosmetic products distributed across 4 groups (face powder, foundation, lipstick, and kohl), each group consisting of 5 types of imported products in Diwaniyah City, Iraq. An analytical test was performed for three heavy metals in cosmetic products, including lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), and mercury (Hg), using a flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The overall mean concentration for each heavy metal was analyzed in the four different products as follows: 6.1620 (powder set), 5.3082 (foundation set), 9.9404 (lipstick set), and 3257.6521 (kohl set) ppm for lead; and 0.6724 (powder set), 8.2575 (foundation set), 4.2045 (lipstick set), and 4.4349 (kohl set) ppm for cadmium. Mercury was not detected in any of the four groups, except for two kohl samples (kh4 and kh5) with levels of 0.55 ± 0.01 and 0.84 ± 0.01 mg/kg, respectively, and a mean of 0.2791 ppb. The findings exhibited a wide range of heavy metal concentrations in the analyzed samples. They indicated that lead and cadmium levels within each class under investigation were relatively higher, with Pb > Cd > Hg. Also, emphasize that the spurious nature of cosmetics cannot be ignored because there is no safe limit for cosmetics in Iraq. Finally, the findings highlight the need for stricter regulatory oversight, enhanced manufacturing practices, and heightened consumer awareness to ensure the safety of cosmetic products.
