The document discusses the adverse health effects of hazardous ingredients in cosmetics. It focuses on heavy metals found in makeup products like lipsticks, foundations and powders. Heavy metals can accumulate in the body over time and are known to cause health issues like cancer, organ damage and developmental disorders. Specific heavy metals discussed that are sometimes found in cosmetics include lead, nickel, beryllium, cadmium, arsenic and mercury. The presentation examines the potential health impacts of exposure to these metals through cosmetic use.

1. A SPECIAL
TOPIC
SEMINAR
PRESENTATIO
N ON THE
ADVERSE
EFFECTS OF
HAZARDOUS
INGREDIENTS
IN COSMETICS

2. BY
AKINGBALA
SANDRA MORENIKE
IN PARTIAL
FUFILMENT FOR
THE
REQUIREMENT OF
ICH 439

3. What are cosmetics?
Cosmetics are defined as any substance or
preparation intended to be placed in contact
with the external parts of the human body or
with the teeth and the mucous membrane of
the oral cavity used to enhance the appearance
and odor. They are generally a mixture of
chemical substances some being derived from
natural sources, many being synthetic. In this
presentation, I will be focusing mainly on
heavy metals in face make-up such as lipsticks,
foundations, mascara, face powder, bronzers.

7. Introduction
Heavy metals are in some of these
cosmetics and consumers have no way of
knowing about them. For many of these metals,
science has not established a safe exposure
limit. As a group, heavy metals can build up in
the body over time and are known to cause
various health problems such as cancer, kidney
damage, reproductive and developmental
disorders, nerve, joint and muscle damage .
There has been growing awareness of cosmetics
with toxic ingredients especially those derived
from SLS (sodium lauryl sulphate) SLS is known
to cause a number of skin problems including
dermatitis.

8. S.O.P for Lauryl Sulphate
Analysis
 Dissolve 1g of sample in 20ml of water
 Add 2 drops of Methylene blue
 Extract with 20ml of chloroform. ( All this
should be done in a separating funnel)
 To the mixture in the beaker, add 10ml of
water.
 OBSERVATION: Blue color appears at the top
layer indicating Lauryl Sulphate.

9. DERMATITIS

10. HEALTH IMPACT OF HEAVY
METALS IN COSMETICS
o These heavy metals have different health
effects; Hexavallent Chromium (+6) is corrosive
and allergic to the skin. Its compounds are
enlisted as carcinogens the International Agency
for Research on Cancer (IARC). Adverse effects of
the Cr are ulcerations, dermatitis, perforation of
the mucous membrane of the nasal septum,
irritation of the pharynx and larynx, asthmatic
bronchitis, bronchospasms, coughing, wheezing,
shortness of breath, nasal itch and edema.

11. Various heavy metals in face
make-up
 Lead
 Nickel
 Beryllium
 Cadmium
 Selenium
 Arsenic
 Thallium
 Mercury
 Antimony

12. Lead is a naturally occurring bluish-grey metal found
in small amounts in the earth’s crust. Lipsticks can
become contaminated with lead via the use of pigments
that contain lead or contaminated raw materials.
Everybody is exposed to trace amounts of lead
through the air, soil, food, drinking water and various
consumer products. If lead is ingested, adults will absorb
10% into the blood while children will absorb 40 to 50%.
Chronic levels of exposure may affect the kidneys,
cardiovascular system, blood, immune system and
especially the peripheral and central nervous system. IQ
deficits have also been linked to the accumulation of
lead in the blood .

13. Nickel is a silvery-white lustrous metal with a slight
golden tinge. It occurs naturally and may be an
essential element in humans.
Everybody is exposed to small amounts through
food, air, water, soil and products containing it
including cosmetics. For animals, studies show that
high levels of exposure can lead to health effects e.g.
it affects the stomach, liver and kidney depending on
the route and the kind of nickel exposed to. Certain
types of nickel (“oxidic”, “sulphidic” and “soluble”)
are considered carcinogenic.

14. Beryllium is a steel-gray, strong light
weight metal and is relatively rare in the
earth’s crust.
Direct exposure via consumer products is
highly unlikely but it is most dangerous when
inhaled. When breathed it can lead to lung
damage following acute and long-term
exposure resulting in Acute Beryllium Disease
and Chronic Beryllium Disease (CBD). When
applied to broken skin, it can cause ulcers or
rashes.

15. Cadmium is a soft bluish-white metal that
occurs naturally in the environment.
Individuals are exposed via food, air, water
and smoking. Cadmium is absorbed in the
body accumulating in the kidney and the
liver, although it can be found in almost all
adult tissues. The total amount absorbed per
day is estimated at between 0.2 to 0.5g/day
Cadmium and its compounds are
considered to be carcinogenic to humans

16. Arsenic is a metal that naturally occurs in the earth’s
crust. Ingested arsenic compounds are readily absorbed in
the gastrointestinal tract and distributed all over the body
and can mostly be found in the kidneys, liver, spleen and
skin within 24 hours.
Arsenic and its inorganic compounds are considered to
be carcinogenic to humans by the International Agency on
Research for Cancer. In humans, the lethal dose is
estimated to be 50 to 300 mg of arsenic trioxide.
High arsenic levels have been suggested to increase
the risk of cancer in internal organs such as bladder, liver
and lungs. Long term exposure via ingestion is associated
with skin cancer. According to a single study with small
number of participants, it may also impair the immune
system.

17. MERCURY
Mercury is the only metal that is a liquid at
standard conditions of temperature and pressure.
According to an article published on the 3rd of
June in the Vanguard, the World Health Organization
said that 77% of Nigerian women use skin lightening
products, the world’s highest percentage. WHO also
said that skin bleaching comes with hazardous health
consequences such as skin cancer and kidney cancer.
It also said that hardcore bleachers used illegal
ointments that contain toxins like mercury which
prevents the production of melanin which gives the
skin its color and causes inflammation of the kidneys,
liver and urinary tracts