Sources

Overview

Each source cited in the Heavy Metal Index has its own page. Source pages record bibliographic metadata, evidence tier, methods, key quantitative results, and the wiki pages that cite the source.

Quick read

Use this section when you want to audit a claim. The list below uses human-readable source titles; cite keys remain available inside each source page for data exports and cross-linking.

FDA EFSA ATSDR JECFA peer-reviewed studies

The folder list below is the public source catalog. For faster lookup, use search with an agency name, metal, product category, or author/year.

Infant And Child Food Studies

Inorganic arsenic in rice-based products for infants and young children - Primary inorganic-arsenic occurrence source for rice-based infant cereals and rice crackers.
Selective Determination of Chromium (VI) in Powdered Milk Infant Formulas by Electrothermal Atomization Atomic Absorption Spectrometry after Ion Exchange - Species-specific Cr(VI) method/application paper for powdered milk infant, follow-up, and dietetic formulas.

Category 5 Beverages

WHO / International

GEMS/Food Contaminants database heavy-metal exports - WHO GEMS/Food contaminant database heavy-metal export manifest, grouped summaries, and arsenic page-route context.

FDA / U.S. Government

FY2018-FY2020 TDS Elements Analytical Results — FDA FY2018-FY2020 Total Diet Study element results for 90 prepared foods and composites, with normalized row-level CSV evidence.

Environmental, feed and laboratory evidence — September 2026

These sources cover animal feeds and pet foods, environmental occurrence, exposure models and laboratory treatment experiments. Each page distinguishes measured findings from model outputs, secondary citations and unresolved source limitations.

Baby wipes, September 2026

Direct wipe measurements and the method plans behind the Washington children’s-product metals report. Polyester sweat release is pathway context, not a wipe result.

Analysis report: quality monitoring results for baby wet wipes sold online - China Association for Quality Promotion of Consumer Products Safety, 2 April 2026, online baby wipes. Annex antimony is a per-liter image read.
Evaluation of the liquid, fiber and packaging content of baby wet wipes for heavy metal contamination - 2025 Istanbul thesis. Ten baby wipes. Solution, fiber, and packaging in instrument ppb. Not milligrams per kilogram.
Hazardous substance analysis of disposable diaper for infant - Scanned 2004 diaper paper. Not a wipe measurement. Table 1 quoted only where the prose and the image agree.
Determination of heavy metals on the non-woven in wet wipes using ICP-MS - Wet-wipe sheet digests reported in micrograms per liter. A labeled milligram-per-kilogram reconstruction is shown and is not the printed result.
Antimony release from polyester textiles by artificial sweat solutions: A call for a standardized procedure - Antimony release from polyester textiles into artificial sweat. Not a baby-wipe measurement.
Quality Assurance Project Plan: Parabens and Metals in Children's Cosmetic and Personal Care Products - Ecology Publication 12-07-021. Method plan, not wipe results.
Quality Assurance Project Plan: Phthalates and Metals in Packaging from Consumer and Children's Products - Ecology Publication 12-07-022. Method plan for packaging.
Quality Assurance Project Plan: Phthalates and Metals in Children's Products - Ecology Publication 12-07-023. Method plan. Includes total chromium.
Quality Assurance Project Plan: Formaldehyde, Volatile Organic Compounds and Metals in Children's Products - Ecology Publication 12-07-024. Method plan. Includes total chromium.

Diaper creams, September 2026

Finished-product measurements of zinc oxide diaper creams are consumer-commissioned single-unit reports (grey literature). The pathway studies measure zinc, not lead or cadmium. The regulatory texts set no finished-product metal limit for over-the-counter skin-protectant drugs.

Consumer-commissioned laboratory test of a 40% zinc oxide diaper rash ointment for lead, cadmium, mercury and arsenic (lot 2025-142) - One 40% zinc oxide ointment, ICP-MS as received. Lead 3303.8 ppb, cadmium 55.50 ppb.
Consumer-commissioned laboratory test of a 40% zinc oxide diaper rash paste for lead, cadmium, mercury and arsenic (lot 2025-169) - One 40% zinc oxide paste. Lead 1401.0 ppb, cadmium 509.5 ppb.
Consumer-commissioned laboratory test of a 40% zinc oxide maximum-strength diaper rash paste for lead, cadmium, mercury and arsenic (lot 2025-182) - One 40% zinc oxide paste. Lead 4657.1 ppb, cadmium 473.1 ppb.
Consumer-commissioned laboratory test of a 13% zinc oxide diaper rash cream for lead, cadmium, mercury and arsenic (lot 2025-218) - One 13% zinc oxide cream. Lead 1244.1 ppb, cadmium 45.26 ppb.
Consumer-advocacy comparison chart of lead, cadmium, mercury and arsenic in eleven diaper creams (updated January 2026) - Eleven-product chart, rounded. Four values match the reports above; seven are chart-only.
Influence of two vehicles for zinc oxide on zinc absorption through intact skin and wounds - Zinc from zinc oxide dressings through intact human skin and rat wounds.
Human Epidermal Zinc Concentrations after Topical Application of ZnO Nanoparticles in Sunscreens - Zinc-67 tracer in excised human skin after a zinc oxide nanoparticle formulation.
UVB exposure enhanced the dermal penetration of zinc oxide nanoparticles and induced inflammatory responses through oxidative stress mediated by MAPKs and NF-κB signaling in SKH-1 hairless mouse skin - UVB and zinc oxide nanoparticle uptake in mouse skin. Numbers only in a supplement not on file.
Early Intervention by a Ward Pharmacist for the Hyperzincemia Caused by Zinc Oxide Ointment in a Infant with Diaper Dermatitis: A Case Report - Case report: hyperzincemia in a preterm infant with zinc oxide ointment on eroded diaper dermatitis.
Opinion on Zinc oxide (nano form), COLIPA S 76 - EU opinion on nano zinc oxide. No impurity data; dermal absorption of zinc.
ICH Harmonised Guideline Q3D(R2): Guideline for Elemental Impurities - ICH Q3D(R2), cutaneous permitted daily exposures for drug products.
21 CFR Part 347, Skin protectant drug products for over-the-counter human use (4-1-25 edition) - US OTC skin protectant monograph, zinc oxide 1 to 25 percent.
Skin Protectant Drug Products for Over-the-Counter Human Use; Tentative Final Monograph for Diaper Rash Drug Products; Proposed Rule - US 1990 proposed diaper-rash rule, zinc oxide above 25 to 40 percent in ointment.
Skin Protectant Drug Products for Over-the-Counter Human Use; Final Monograph - US 2003 final skin protectant monograph.
Diaper Rash Products Monograph - Health Canada Diaper Rash Products Monograph, 2024.
Knowledge Database: Zinc oxide, European Pharmacopoeia monograph 00252, monograph details and history - European Pharmacopoeia zinc oxide monograph record. Thallium 5 ppm added; lead and cadmium limits not obtained.

Mineral baby sunscreens, September 2026

Metals in finished sunscreens and in the titanium dioxide and zinc oxide that make them mineral, the instruments that govern those filters, and skin-penetration studies. Baby-product values are single commercially tested units; peer-reviewed product values are adult sunscreens.

Chart Comparing the Toxicant Profiles of Popular Sunscreen Products - Consumer-advocacy chart, 35 sunscreens and one zinc oxide powder, single units, ppb as sold. Grey literature.
Laboratory test of a zinc oxide baby sunscreen lotion, SPF 50 for lead, cadmium, mercury and arsenic (laboratory case 2505271), Laboratory test of a zinc oxide 23.4% baby sunscreen, SPF 50 for lead, cadmium, mercury and arsenic (laboratory case 2505468), Laboratory test of a baby mineral sunscreen lotion with prebiotics, SPF 55 for lead, cadmium, mercury and arsenic (laboratory case 2507165), Laboratory test of a baby mineral sunscreen lotion, SPF 50 for lead, cadmium, mercury and arsenic (laboratory case 2506212), Laboratory test of a sensitive-skin baby mineral sunscreen lotion, SPF 50 for lead, cadmium, mercury and arsenic (laboratory case 2505470) - Five baby mineral sunscreen laboratory reports, by case number. Same tests as five chart rows.
35 Sunscreens Tested: No Benzene Detected, Lead Found in All 35. Sunscreen Contaminant Screening: Residual Solvents and Heavy Metals - Company screening of 35 retail sunscreens, mg/kg as sold; food-method digestion.
영유아·어린이용 자외선 차단제 시험·평가 결과 (Test and evaluation results for infant and child sunscreens, attachments 1 and 2) - Korean consumer federation, 17 infant and child sunscreens, compliance outcome only.
Sunscreens as a New Source of Metals and Nutrients to Coastal Waters - One adult SPF 50 nano titanium dioxide spray and its release to seawater.
Sunscreen Products as Emerging Pollutants to Coastal Waters - Titanium, zinc, aluminium and iron in seven adult sunscreens; non-detects without a detection limit.
Opinion on Zinc oxide (nano form), COLIPA S 76, Addendum to the Opinion SCCS/1489/12 on Zinc oxide (nano form), COLIPA S 76 (SCCS/1518/13), Opinion on Titanium Dioxide (nano form), COLIPA S 75 (SCCS/1516/13), Scientific Advice on Titanium dioxide (TiO2) (CAS/EC numbers 13463-67-7/236-675-5, 1317-70-0/215-280-1, 1317-80-2/215-282-2) (SCCS/1661/23) - EU committee opinions on the mineral UV filters and cosmetic titanium dioxide impurity profiles.
Safety assessment of titanium dioxide (E171) as a food additive - EFSA E171 food-additive opinion. Context only.
Occurrence and effects of nanosized anatase titanium dioxide in consumer products, Dermal Absorption of Nanomaterials Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide Based Sunscreen: Role of Size and Surface Coating - Danish EPA crystal-form mapping and skin-model penetration study.
Sunscreen Drug Products for Over-the-Counter Human Use (proposed rule), Primary Sunscreen Monograph - US proposed GRASE rule and Canadian sunscreen monograph.
Human Epidermal Zinc Concentrations after Topical Application of ZnO Nanoparticles in Sunscreens, Support for the Safe Use of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticle Sunscreens: Lack of Skin Penetration or Cellular Toxicity after Repeated Application in Volunteers, Should nanoparticles be used in sunscreens?, Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticle Penetration into the Skin and Effects on HaCaT Cells, UVB exposure enhanced the dermal penetration of zinc oxide nanoparticles and induced inflammatory responses through oxidative stress mediated by MAPKs and NF-κB signaling in SKH-1 hairless mouse skin - Zinc and titanium skin penetration in adult, ex vivo and animal skin.

Baby lotions, oils, and powders, September 2026

Measurements and government texts for baby lotions, baby oils, and baby powders. Case reports of lead-oxide folk powders and an edible-oil survey are context, not commercial baby product measurements.

Evaluated Daily Intake and Health Risk Assessment of Some Toxic Heavy Metals in Baby Powder for Various Brands Marketed in Benghazi, Libya - Sixteen baby talcum powders, Benghazi, 2024. Six metals by flame AAS, mg/kg as sold. Several table and prose conflicts are flagged.
Heavy metal content of selected personal care products (PCPs) available in Ibadan, Nigeria and their toxic effects - Thirty-five personal care products, Ibadan. Two baby powders and four baby petroleum jellies. One baby powder lead result corroborated across three laboratories.
20款爽身粉测评 (Test of 20 infant powders by the Shenzhen Consumer Council), news report - News report of a 2020 Shenzhen Consumer Council test of 20 infant powders. Maxima and counts only.
国家药监局通告27批次不合格化妆品 (NMPA notice of 27 non-compliant cosmetic batches), news report - News report of a 2019 Chinese national non-compliance notice. Two children’s powders with lead above 10 mg/kg on re-test.
Baby lotion tested for lead, cadmium, mercury and arsenic (Lead Safe Mama community-funded laboratory testing, single lot) - One baby lotion lot reported non-detect for four metals. Summary graphic only.
Determination of Heavy Metal (Cu, Pb, Ni) in Talcum Powder by Using Atomic Absorption Spectrometry - Undergraduate report excerpt. Eight talcum powders, digest-solution mg/L, not convertible to mg/kg.
Lead poisoning in a 6-month-old infant: a case report - Case report. A lead-containing traditional powder used by a breastfeeding mother. Not a baby product measurement.
Toxicants in folk remedies: implications of elevated blood lead in an American-born infant due to imported diaper powder - Abstract only. A folk diaper powder with 62% lead by weight.
Physicochemical characterization and determination of trace metals in different edible fats and oils in Bangladesh: Nexus to human health - Edible oils including mustard oil. Context only; no skin-application data.
21 CFR 73.1550 Talc (color additive exempt from certification, for drugs) - US federal lead and arsenic specification for talc used to colour drugs, measured in an acid extract.
Talc (INS No. 553(iii)) specifications, prepared at the 61st JECFA (2003) - FAO/WHO food-additive specification for talc. Lead 2 mg/kg.
Diaper Rash Products Monograph - Canadian diaper rash monograph. Classifies powder, oil, and ointment ingredients. No metal values.

Existing records updated with facts from this collection: Quality and safety investigation of commonly used topical cosmetic preparations, Evaluation of heavy metals in cosmetic products and their health risk assessment, Metals in Children's and Consumer Products and Packaging, Guidance on Heavy Metal Impurities in Cosmetics, Quality of Natural Health Products Guide, Technically avoidable heavy metal contents in cosmetic products, and Washington State Toxic-Free Cosmetics Act (HB 1047) — statutory cap on heavy metals in cosmetic products.

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