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.