Risk assessment of heavy metals in brands of lipsticks commonly used in Shahrekord, Iran

The desire for beauty and frequent use of cosmetics can expose humans to heavy metals, which can cause immune system disorders over time. We selected 5 common lipstick brands to determine the concentrations of cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), and chromium (Cr). We prepared each sample by acid digestion, and then the concentration of the metals was measured using an atomic absorption spectrometer. The results showed that Pb, Cd, and Cr were present in all lipstick samples. However, their concentrations were lower than the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) standards. The maximum concentrations of Pb and Cd were 2.31 mg/kg (brand A) and 0.037 mg/kg (brand D), respectively. Health risk assessment of the examined metals showed that only Cr can pose noncarcinogenic (14.98) and carcinogenic (44.96E-04) risks to consumers. Despite the low concentration of heavy metals in our study, chronic use of lipstick can pose carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks due to the presence of Cr.