Metals In Hair Colour Products: Implication For Human Health

Hair colouring is widely used by women and men either to change their natural hair colour, to delay the onset of grey or to re-pigment already grey hair. A wide array of natural and synthetic hair-colouring agents is available.Vegetable and metallic dyes are natural colourants, but these have largely been replaced by synthetic organic dyes. [1] According to EU Regulation No. 1223/2009/EC cosmetic products for daily use can contain ‗technically unavoidable traces‘ of metals. This definition is too vague. Authorities should set well-defined restrictions, considering the risks related with metal pollution of cosmetics such as hair color products [2]. Increased Pb, Cd, and Hg concentrations in the blood, urine or internal organs noted in individuals in whom the use of cosmetic products was the only source of excessive exposure to these metals confirms their absorption through the skin [3]. The study was undertaken in order to determine heavy metals content (As, Pb, Hg) in hair dyes both imported and locally manufactured which were produce under control of food drug Administration. The target of this study was to determine the concentrations of heavy metals including in hair dyes sold in different shops with a view of assessing the potential risks that such cosmetic may cause to consumers. Table (1) gives a summary of the analysis of the concentrations of heavy metals in (20) hair dyes sampled.