LEAD IN YOUR LIPSTICK: A JOURNAL APPRAISAL

INTRODUCTION Lead used as a coloring element in ceramic glazes traditional base metal for water pipes basically taken up by ingestion uptake of food (65%) water (20%) air (15%) significant level of lead in the blood is about 10 microgram/dL At higher levels, ~25 micrograms/dL, there is high possibility of damage to kidneys and the nervous system Symptoms may include pain, numbness or tingling of the extremities, muscular weakness, headache, abdominal pain, memory loss, miscarriage or premature birth in pregnant women, and fatigue

IN THE NEWS: LEAD CONTAMINATION Started 3 years ago Mattel (toy company) recalled more than 18 million products after high lead content was found in their products in (August 2007) In October 2007, Campaign for Safe Cosmetics released a report which revealed trace amounts of lead among commercially-available lipstick brands lead levels exceeding USFDAs upper limit for candy, 0.1ppm

THE RESEARCH QUESTION Is there a significant amount of lead among commercially available lipstick brands that can pose health risks?

OBJECTIVES 1.To identify the allowable levels of lead according to drug authorities such as FDA 2.To identify commercial brands of lipstick with significant lead content 3.To compare the relative lead content in lipsticks with lead 4.To determine if the use of the said products has already caused hazard to human health