Cosmetics Trace Elemental Content: Analytical Methodology and Toxicity Evaluation of Products in the Italian Market

Abstract

A new method for the determination of five trace metals (Pb, Co, Cd, Cr, and Ni) in make-up products was developed. Quantification of the metals was performed by inductively coupled plasma – mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The specificity, precision, applicability range and linearity, the minimum detection limit, repeatability, trueness, and uncertainty of the method were assessed by a top-down approach. The method was applied to 90 cosmetic products in the Italian market and only Pb and Cd were always lower than limits for cosmetic products proposed by the Istituto Superiore Sanità (Italian National Institute for Health, ISS). The metal concentrations allowed the evaluation of the risk levels of exposure to these elements. Except for a few cases, the calculated margin of safety (MOS), margin of exposure (MOE), and lifetime cancer risk (LCR) values were all below the risk threshold levels. Based on the maximum concentrations of metals determined in the cosmetics, the dose of systemic exposure (SED) ranged from 8.00 x 10⁻¹² to 3.39 x 10⁻⁷mg/kg/d. The risk was also described from the hazard index (HI). The metals in each cosmetic product show an MOE higher than the threshold limit except for Cr in eyeshadow.

Keywords:

• Cosmetic products
• inductively coupled plasma – mass spectrometry (ICP-MS)
• microwave-assisted acid digestion
• safety assessment
• toxic elements

Acknowledgement

The authors would like to thank Dr. Guido Perra for his skillfull advice during the drafting of the manuscript.

Author contributions

Cristiana Guerranti: writing review and editing, data discussion; Costanza Andreuccetti: investigation, data discussion; Isabella Cenni: conceptualization, supervision, experimental set up, investigation, data discussion; Saul Santini: conceptualization, data curation, writing review and editing, statistical analysis, data discussion; Tania Martellini: data curation, statistical analysis, review of text; Alessandra Cincinelli: supervision, data discussion, review of text; Andrea Perico: conceptualization, supervision, experimental set up, funding acquisition, review of text.

Availability of data and materials

All data generated or analyzed during this study are included in this article.

Declaration of interest statement

The authors report there are no competing interests to declare.