title: Safety evaluation of metal exposure from commonly used moisturizing and skin-lightening creams in Nigeria.
abstract: The concentrations of ten metals (Cd, Pb, Ni, Cr, Cu, Co, Fe, Mn, Zn and Al) were measured in some commonly used moisturizing and skin-lightening creams in Nigeria with a view to providing information on the risk of exposure to metals from the use of these products. The metal concentrations in these products were measured by atomic absorption spectrometry after acid digestion of the samples. The measured concentrations of metals in the skin moisturizing creams ranged from <0.15 to 6.3 μg/g Cd, <0.02 to 17.5 μg/g Cu, 2.25 to 6.25 μg/g Cr, <0.25 to 124.3 μg/g Al, 0.2 to 7.3 μg/g Pb, <0.03 to 10.7 μg/g Ni, 17.3 to 372.0 μg/g Zn, <0.02 to 1.0 μg/g Co, 17.75 to 28.8 μg/g Mn, <0.1 to 89.8 μg/g Fe while the concentrations of metals in the skin-lightening products ranged from <0.15 to 16.5 μg/g Cd, <0.02 to 10.0 μg/g Cu, 4.25 to 8.0 μg/g Cr, <0.25 to 128.0 μg/g Al, 0.5 to 4.5 μg/g Pb, <0.03 to 1.65 μg/g Ni, 24.7 to 267.5 μg/g Zn, <0.02 to 2.5 μg/g for Co, 19.3 to 31.8 μg/g Mn, 9.5 to 211.63 μg/g Fe. In a significant number (>93%) of the samples investigated the concentrations of Pb, Cd, Ni and Co were below the specified limit, or the maximal limit for impurities in colour additives in cosmetics for external use. However, Cr was found at concentrations above the allergenic limit of 1 μg/g. The results also showed that skin-lightening creams contained higher concentrations of the studied metals than the moisturizing creams, except for Ni, which indicates that persons who uses skin-lightening creams in preference to moisturizing ones, are exposed to higher concentrations of metals.
authors: Metals and Trace Organics Research Group, Department of Chemistry, Delta State University, P.M.B. 1, Abraka, Nigeria; School of Chemistry and Physics, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville Campus, Private Bag X54001, Durban, South Africa. Electronic address: maxipriestley@yahoo.com.
authors: Chukwujindu M A
authors: CM
authors: Iwegbue
authors: Department of Chemistry, University of Calabar, P.M.B. 1115, Calabar, Cross-Rivers State, Nigeria.
authors: Francisca I
authors: FI
authors: Bassey
authors: Metals and Trace Organics Research Group, Department of Chemistry, Delta State University, P.M.B. 1, Abraka, Nigeria.
authors: Godswill O
authors: GO
authors: Tesi
authors: Faculty of Pharmacy, Delta State University, P.M.B. 1, Abraka, Nigeria.
authors: Sunday O
authors: SO
authors: Onyeloni
authors: Department of Chemistry, Federal University of Petroleum Resource, Effurun, Delta State, Nigeria.
authors: Grace
authors: G
authors: Obi
authors: School of Chemistry and Physics, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville Campus, Private Bag X54001, Durban, South Africa.
authors: Bice S
authors: BS
authors: Martincigh
mesh_terms: D003877:Dermatitis, Contact / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008670:Metals / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis*; D009549:Nigeria; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D063465:Skin Cream / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis*; D062327:Skin Lightening Preparations / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis*; D013054:Spectrophotometry, Atomic
chemical_list: D008670:Metals; D062327:Skin Lightening Preparations
keywords: Body creams; Contact dermatitis; Exposure; Metals; Nigeria