title: Evaluation of human exposure to metals from some commonly used bathing soaps and shower gels in Nigeria.
abstract: The concentrations of nine metals (Cd, Pb, Ni, Cr, Co, Cu, Fe, Mn and Zn) were measured in selected brands of medicated, moisturizing and skin-lightening soaps and shower gels with the aim of evaluating the human health risk associated with metal exposure from the use of these products. The concentrations of metals in these products were determined by means of atomic absorption spectrophotometry after sample digestion with a mixture of acids. The concentration ranges of the metals in the bathing soaps and shower gels were found to be: <0.06-3.4 μg g-1for Cd, <0.09-26.5 μg g-1for Pb, <0.12-43.0 μg g-1for Cr, <0.06-32.5 μg g-1for Ni, <0.06-40.5 μg g-1for Cu, <0.12-8.0 μg g-1for Co, 61.8-4000 μg g-1for Fe, <0.09-29.5 μg g-1for Mn, and 25.5-1000 μg g-1for Zn. The systemic exposure dosage values for these metals obtained from the application of these brands of bathing soaps and shower gels were below their respective provisional tolerable daily intake/or recommended daily intake values. The margin of safety values obtained for the metals were greater than 100 which indicated that there was no significant risk to the users of these brands of bathing soaps and shower gels, except in the case of Co.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Delta State University, P.M.B. 1, Abraka, Delta State, Nigeria. Electronic address: maxipriestley@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Chukwujindu M A
authors.initials: CMA
authors.lastname: Iwegbue
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Delta State University, P.M.B. 1, Abraka, Delta State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Omotekoro S
authors.initials: OS
authors.lastname: Emakunu
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Delta State University, P.M.B. 1, Abraka, Delta State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Godwin E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Nwajei
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Calabar, P.M.B. 1115, Calabar, Cross-River State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Francisca I
authors.initials: FI
authors.lastname: Bassey
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry and Physics, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville Campus, Private Bag X54001, Durban, 4000, South Africa.
authors.forename: Bice S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Martincigh
mesh_terms: D003257:Consumer Product Safety; D003358:Cosmetics / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis*; D000075322:Heavy Metal Poisoning; D006801:Humans; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis*; D009549:Nigeria; D019055:No-Observed-Adverse-Effect Level; D011041:Poisoning / Q000209:etiology; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012915:Soaps / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis*; D013054:Spectrophotometry, Atomic
chemical_list: D003358:Cosmetics; D019216:Metals, Heavy; D012915:Soaps
keywords: Bathing soaps and shower gels; Margin of safety; Metals; Nigeria; Systemic exposure dosage