Toxic metal levels in US lip products a cause for concern

Researchers from the University of California, Berkeley, have shown that the levels of several toxic metals in lip products on sale in the US are dangerously high. They measured the concentrations of lead and other metals in lipsticks and lip glosses on general sale by an inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) method and converted the values into estimated daily intakes. These levels were compared with estimated acceptable daily intakes (ADI) based on data from the Californian EPA on public health goals for drinking water, as they described in Environmental Health Perspectives.

The levels of chromium, aluminium, cadmium and manganese were all a cause for concern but those of nickel and copper were well below the ADI. Lead levels were also relatively low, although it is generally accepted that there is no safe level of lead intake.

Unlike the EU, there is currently no regulation covering toxic metals in cosmetics in the US. Following this preliminary study, which extended an earlier study and supported the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, the research team recommended further evaluation of metal contents. The estimated exposures should be compared with health-based standards to decide whether regulation is required, and to what level.