Level of selected heavy metals in some commercially available cosmetic products in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

The study was conducted in order to assess heavy metal content in some commercially available cosmetics products that are manufactured in United Kingdom (UK), United States of America (USA), India and the Peoples Republic of China (PRC) and sold in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Face creams, beauty soaps, lipsticks and body lotions from the mentioned countries were purchased from local markets in Dar es Salaam and analytical procedures were employed to determine the contents of lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd) and copper (Cu) using Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (FAAS). The results showed that lipstick samples contained the highest Pb at 23.36 µg/g, Cd at 23.30 µg/g and Cu at 22.91 µg/g. The highest concentrations in the beauty soap samples showed 21.99 µg/g Pb, 0.98 µg/g Cd and 18.8 µg/g Cu. Face cream samples contained the least contents of Pb at 6.52 µg/g, Cd at 0.16 µg/g, and Cu at 3.75 µg/g. In body lotions, no Pb and Cd were detected; in contrast, the contents of Cu was high (up to 1.4 µg/g). The products evaluated contained toxic heavy metals, though, not at an alarming concentration. Further research and analysis on the health risks of these products is proposed and extreme attention must be given to heavy metals during manufacture.