Mercury Compound Detection in Cosmetic Products

Mercury-containing cosmetics have been represented for many years as skin bleaching agents in skin whitening products, or as preparations to remove orprevent freckles and/or brown spots. The trade in skin whitening creams is booming in Britain, and the creams are enormously popular in many African countries, particularly post-apartheid South Africa, as well as amongst African American women. However, women are poorly informed about the effects of using skin whitening products. The objective of this research study is to investigate the presence of mercury compounds in whitening facial cream and facial cleanser by performing experimental analysis. There is also a need to research for the allowable limit of mercury in the cosmetics and finally to research for the effects of mercury-containing whitening cream to consumers. The analysis of mercury compound was carried out to six skin whitening products from various brands. The presence ofmercury compounds was determined by using the method ofvaporization and trapping with Atomic Fluorescence Spectrometry (AFS). From the experimental results, the actual mercury concentration in each sample products was calculated and was presented in parts per million (ppm) levels. Product C contains the highest mercury concentration, which is 329.88 ppm, followed by Product D with 267.53 ppm, then Product F with 136.39 ppm, Product B with 65.86 ppm, Product A as the second lowest with 26.01 ppm, and finally the lowest mercury-containing product is Product E. Since there should be no any trace amount of mercury in cosmetic products except not more than 65 ppm of mercury used as preservative in eye area cosmetics, the amount of mercury in all sample products obtained, are all exceeding the allowable limit. However, the results obtained cannot be approved since the method used to dissolve or to extract the sample products was not based on any approved standard such ASTM Standard Method. Furthermore, there was no Certified Reference Material was used to compare the experimental results with the theoretical values. As to conclude, there is mercury compound exist in skin whitening products but the concentration differs amongst products. The experimental analysis ofcan be improved by employing a standard method of cosmetic analysis, and student must be more precautious during the preparation of samples