ABSTRACT
The toxicity of heavy metals to humans as a result of long term exposure to pollutants consumer products such as cosmetics and other pollutants has been established. In this study, the levels of heavy metals in different cosmetic products commonly used among Kaduna Polytechnic students were assessed. The cosmetics were analyzed for heavy metals (chromium, copper, nickel and lead) using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS) after digestion with concentrated HNO3 and HCl acids. The concentrations of the selected heavy metals were determined in duplicates. All the samples analyzed contain detectable amount of the selected heavy metals which range from 0.02813 – 13.6628ppm in Lipstick, 2.4162 – 81.7835ppm in Powder and 0.0019 – 39.2720ppm in Soap although within the allowed limits. It is confirmed from this study that the use of cosmetic product exposes the users to low concentrations of toxic heavy metals which may lead to potential health risk to such users, since the metals can accumulate in the body over time. Recommendations on how to curb this challenge was also given.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER ONE
1.0 Introduction 1
1.1 Heavy metals 3
1.2 Cosmetics 4
1.3 Hazardous chemicals in cosmetics 5
1.4 Aim and objectives 6
1.5 Justification 6
1.6 Scope 7
CHAPTER TWO
2.0 Literature review 8
2.1 Toxic heavy metals 10
2.1.1 Lead 10
2.1.2 Cadmium 12
2.1.3 Mercury 13
2.1.4 Arsenic 14
2.1.5 Nickel 16
2.1.6 Chromium 17
2.2 Exposure to heavy metals 18
2.3 How heavy metals get into cosmetics 20
2.4 Allowable levels of heavy metals in cosmetics 21
2.5 Health impacts of heavy metals in cosmetics 22
CHAPTER THREE
3.0 Materials and method 26
3.1 Materials 26
3.2 Methodology 27
3.2.1 Sample collection 27
3.2.2 Digestion of samples 27
3.2.3 Preparation of standard solution 27
3.2.4 Sample preparation 27
CHAPTER FOUR
4.0 Results 29
CHAPTER FIVE
5.0 Discussion, Conclusion and Recommendation
5.1 Discussion 31
5.2 Conclusion 32
5.3 Recommendation 32
References 33
