Determination and assessments of selected heavy metals in eye shadow cosmetics

Overview

Volpe and colleagues measured lead, cadmium, cobalt, chromium, and nickel in 20 powdered eye shadow cosmetics purchased in Italy and labeled as manufactured in China, Italy, or the United States. Lead is reported in µg g-1 wet weight; cadmium, cobalt, chromium, and nickel are reported in ng g-1 wet weight. The source includes brand/sample group numbers, but this page reports product-form and origin-country context only.

Key numbers

• Sample frame: 20 powdered eye shadows, divided into five sample groups, with origin countries China, Italy, and the United States.
• Lead in Table 1 ranged from 0.25 ± 0.01 µg g-1 wet weight to 81.50 ± 0.89 µg g-1 wet weight.
• Lead values above 20 µg g-1 were reported for five samples: 81.50 ± 0.89, 58.73 ± 0.26, 65.60 ± 0.20, 42.25 ± 0.08, and 39.02 ± 0.56 µg g-1 wet weight; the text states these high values corresponded to eye shadows imported from China and darker color pigments.
• Cadmium in Table 3 ranged from 0.60 ± 0.07 ng g-1 wet weight to 33.04 ± 0.23 ng g-1 wet weight.
• Cobalt in Table 3 ranged from 0.15 ± 0.01 ng g-1 wet weight to 303.7 ± 5.2 ng g-1 wet weight.
• Chromium in Table 3 ranged from 15.00 ± 1.30 ng g-1 wet weight to 287.00 ± 9.00 ng g-1 wet weight.
• Nickel in Table 3 ranged from 21.80 ± 2.10 ng g-1 wet weight to 4148.00 ± 64.04 ng g-1 wet weight; other high nickel values included 4123.20 ± 54.60, 3780.60 ± 38.50, and 2526.50 ± 23.00 ng g-1 wet weight.

Methods (brief)

Samples were digested by adding 5 mL of 67% HNO3 and 1 mL of 40% HF to 1 g of sample in PTFE vessels, followed by microwave digestion. Lead was measured by flame atomic absorption spectrometry using a Varian SpectrAA 200 at 217.0 nm, with triplicate readings. Cadmium, chromium, nickel, and cobalt were measured by ICP-MS using an Element 2 instrument with internal standards (115In for cadmium and 69Ga for nickel, chromium, and cobalt).

Related evidence

• Eye makeup (liners, shadows, mascara, brow products, false lash adhesives, lash/eyebrow serums)

Update history

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