Determination of toxic heavy metal content in a whitening creams by using inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry

The accumulation of toxic heavy metals in the body may cause chronic health issues that can be asymptomatic in the initial stages. Therefore, it is significant to evaluate possible health hazards of unbranded Omani cosmetics that are taking into account the dangers on health caused by these cosmetics. The aims of this study are to examine the amount of toxic heavy metals in two distinct unbranded cosmetic face creams (night and Oliban creams) by using inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) The collected two unbranded cosmetic face creams were collected from the market, and the sample was dissolved in nitric acid. The dissolved samples were digested in a microwave at 180 °C for 45 min. The result showed that the Night cream contained 608.5, 2.9, 101.4, and 11.15 μg/g of lead (Pb), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), and nickel (Ni), whereas the sample did not have arsenic (As), iron (Fe), cobalt (Co), or zinc (Zn). On the other hand, the Oliban cream contained 242.95, 2.1, 1093.5, and 71.55 μg/g of Pb, Cr, Cu, and Ni; however, the sample did not have As, Fe, Co, Cd, or Zn. Based on the experimental results, it showed that both the cream samples contain toxic heavy metals above the permissible limit. So far, to the authors’ knowledge, the present study is the first study on the content of toxic heavy metals in the creams by using ICP-OES. Graphical abstract