Ali and colleagues measured lead, cadmium, chromium, nickel, zinc, arsenic, aluminium, and titanium in 15 sunblock products bought in Lahore, Pakistan, after a student survey. Each product was acid digested in triplicate. Flame atomic absorption was used first, and products described as above cited standards were measured again by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry. Retail names are not printed. The products are coded SB1 through SB15. Highs for the same metals are not the same number in the abstract, the flame atomic absorption text, and Table 1.
Key numbers
Figures below are copied as printed. Units are not converted. Species are not merged.
| Analyte | What was reported | Value | Unit | Basis | Where |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pb | Its detection limits are 1-100 µg/l | 1-100 | µg/l | total content | Section 2.4.1, p. 5 |
| Pb | EU Directive 76/768/EEC, Pb | 0.5 | ppm | total content | Section 2.6, p. 6 |
| Cd | EU Directive 76/768/EEC, Cd | 0.5 | ppm | total content | Section 2.6, p. 6 |
| Cr | EU Directive 76/768/EEC, Cr | 1 | ppm | total content | Section 2.6, p. 6 |
| Ni | EU Directive 76/768/EEC, Ni | 0.6 | ppm | total content | Section 2.6, p. 6 |
| Ti | EU Directive 76/768/EEC, Ti | 0.25 | ppm | total content | Section 2.6, p. 6 |
| As | EU Directive 76/768/EEC, As, use prohibited | 0 | ppm | total content | Section 2.6, p. 6 |
| Al | USFDA sets the concentration limits of Al and Zn as up to or slightly more than 20 ppm | 20 | ppm | total content | Section 2.6, p. 6 |
| Zn | USFDA sets the concentration limits of Al and Zn as up to or slightly more than 20 ppm | 20 | ppm | total content | Section 2.6, p. 6 |
| Zn | The EU standard for Zn concentration in sunblock is 20 mg/kg | 20 | mg/kg | total content | Section 3.2.4, p. 9 |
| Al | The EU standard for Al concentration in sunblock is 20 mg/kg | 20 | mg/kg | total content | Section 3.2.5, p. 10 |
| Pb | Pb (mg/kg) | 3.511 ± 0.123 | mg/kg | total content | Table 1, p. 11 |
| Cd | Cd (mg/kg) | 1.219 ± 0.129 | mg/kg | total content | Table 1, p. 11 |
| Ni | Ni (mg/kg) | 1.167 ± 0.1257 | mg/kg | total content | Table 1, p. 11 |
The structured evidence record for this source holds 98 copied values. The table above is the short set.
Methods (brief)
About 200 questionnaires were collected at universities in Lahore. Fifteen products chosen from that survey were purchased locally. Five grams were digested with nitric acid and perchloric acid and brought to 50 ml. Triplicates gave 45 preparations. Flame atomic absorption covered eight elements. The paper says samples that exceeded safety standards were run by ICP-OES, and Table 1 is that table for lead, cadmium, nickel, and titanium. Zinc and aluminium results are described from figures, with only the highest and lowest values written out. Health risk formulas for margin of safety, systemic exposure dosage, hazard quotient, hazard index, and lifetime cancer risk were calculated and are not copied here.
Evidence fitness
These data support total Pb, Cd, Ni, and Ti in 15 coded sunblock products from Lahore, as mean ± S.D. in Table 1; stated FAAS maxima and minima for Pb, Cd, Ni, Zn, Al, and Ti; nondetect statements for Cr and As in all 15 products.
They do not support inorganic arsenic or hexavalent chromium, which were not detected and not speciated; a full numeric table for Zn or Al; retail brand names; migration or dermal dose as a measured concentration; a certification limit.
Limitations
Table 1 and the flame atomic absorption narrative disagree. Examples: lead in SB8 is 5.755 ± 0.0901 mg/kg in the narrative and 5.761 ± 0.0901 mg/kg in Table 1. Nickel in SB15 is 5.3 ± 0.3774 mg/kg in the narrative, 5.3 ± 0.3744 mg/kg in the abstract, and 5.2 ± 0.3773 mg/kg in Table 1. Titanium in SB9 is 4 ± 0.3298, 4 ± 0.294, and 4.1 ± 0.3295 mg/kg in those three places. Zinc in the discussion is 4.012 ± 0.34 mg/kg, while the SB4 maximum is 4.012 ± 1.5 mg/kg. Full zinc and aluminium series are not printed. Chromium and arsenic have no numeric nondetect limit. Section 2.6 and Sections 3.2.4 and 3.2.5 disagree on whether 20 mg/kg for zinc and aluminium is a USFDA or an EU figure. Hazard quotient, hazard index, margin of safety, exposure dose, and lifetime cancer risk tables were not transcribed.
Related evidence
- Lead
- Cadmium
- Chromium
- Nickel
- Zinc
- Arsenic, Total
- Aluminum
- Titanium
- Sun/suntan products (including spray, self-tan, airbrush)
Update history
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