Trace amounts of potentially toxic metals can be either intentionally added to cosmetics or present as impurities in the rawmaterials.\r\nIn the present study, the levels of lead, cadmium, nickel, chromium, andmercury have been assessed in 28 body creams and lotions,\r\n10 powders, 3 soaps, 5 eye make-ups, and 4 lipsticks widely available onNigerianmarkets.Theincreases over suggested or mandated\r\nlevels of lead in these creams and lotions ranged from 6.1 to 45.9 and from 1.2 to 9.2mg kg-1 when compared with Cosmetic\r\nIngredients Review Expert Panel 2007 and German safe maximum permissible limit of lead in cosmetics, respectively. About 61%of\r\nthe body cosmetics, the lotions, and the creams contained detectable levels of nickel ranging from1.1 to 6.4ââ?¬â??9.2mg kg-1. Chromium\r\nandmercury were undetected in 100%of the cosmetic product. Taken together, lead and cadmium were high in creams and lotions.\r\nMost of the imported creams and creamy white coloured cosmetics contained higher levels of metal contaminants than the other\r\ncolours. Regulatory Agencies in developing nations should take appropriate action for cosmetics that contain lead and cadmium\r\nbeyond the reference limits.
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