Elemental profile of lipstick by AAS technique: Health risk investigation

Abstract In the current study, atomic absorption spectroscopy has been utilized to investigate the concentration level of metals such as Pb, Cd, Fe, Zn, and Cu on lipstick samples. Heavy metals such as Pb and Cd are hazardous to human health, and therefore, the potential health risk possess by these metals have been investigated. Pb concentration in two samples (L21 and L25) was found above the concentration limit set by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration which is 20 ppm. The hazard index values of Pb and Cd for both oral ingestion and dermal absorption was calculated and found to be less than unity, which indicated negligible non-carcinogenic health risk. The calculated lifetime cancer risk value for Cd suggested that the procured lipsticks were safe and would not pose any potential threats to consumers in their lifetime. Additionally, the concentration profile of metals obtained in the current study can be used in the data generation of concentration of metals of different lipstick brands, and can be helpful in evaluating the source and comparison of recovered lipstick exhibit from the crime scene.