Elemental burdens of cosmetics and associated health and environmental impacts: A global view

The use of diverse chemicals in beauty, skin, hair, and nail care products may be traced back to ancient times. Preservatives, stabilizers, mineral pigments, colour, and shine were added to these goods to improve their quality and increase their effects. This review which covers 28 countries, highlights the heavy metal content of some cosmetics, and their associated health and environmental implications, and the use of multivariate statistics to understand the dynamics and interrelationship between the elements. From the study, cosmetic products pose debilitating impacts on human health because some products contain potentially toxic elements including Pb, Zn, Cd, As, Fe, Sb, Cr, Co, Hg, and Ni beyond allowable levels. However, the concentrations of these elements in cosmetics are country, product, and manufacturer variants. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and correlation matrix revealed possible interrelationships between different elements in cosmetic products, which have harmful implications. This suggests potential harmful interactions and the need for strict safety measures in their formulation and usage. Indiscriminate disposal of these products containing toxic heavy metals may pose detrimental impacts on the environment and various ecological systems. It is recommended that manufacturers of cosmetics invest in non-toxic materials that pose no or fewer impacts on the environment and consumer health.