Investigation of Lead, Cadmium, and Copper Levels in Inexpensive and Moderately Priced Eye Shadow Samples Sold in Markets and Stores via ICP-OES

In this study, the levels of lead, cadmium, and copper in inexpensive eye shadows sold in markets and moderately priced eye shadows sold in stores were analyzed using Inductively Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES). The accuracy and repeatability of the analytical method were checked using Certified Reference Material (NCS-DC 73350), and the recovery efficiencies obtained were determined as 96.7% for Cu, 98.9% for Pb, and 95.4% for Cd. The relative standard deviation (RSD) of the standard reference material was found to be less than 5.0%. In market samples, Cu, Pb, and Cd values were found to be 4.61–10.22 µg/g, 2.98–8.45 µg/g, and 1.95–3.97 µg/g, respectively, while in store samples, these values were determined to be 0.98–3.65 µg/g, 0.47–2.48 µg/g, and 0.82–2.20 µg/g, respectively. The results of the examined samples were compared with the impurity limit values for cosmetic products determined by the European Parliament (EU), the World Health Organization (WHO), the United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA), the Canadian Ministry of Health regulations, the German Federal Office for Consumer Protection and Food Safety (BVL), and the Turkish Medicines and Medical Devices Agency (TİTCK). All detected values were found to be below the impurity limits determined by TİTCK. One-way ANOVA results showed that the eyeshadow samples taken from the market and stores were statistically different in terms of Cu (µg/g), Pb (µg/g), and Cd (µg/g) values (p < 0.001). Independent samples t-test results showed that Cu (µg/g), Pb (µg/g), and Cd (µg/g) values in samples taken from markets were statistically significantly higher than those taken from stores. Toxicological risk assessment indicates that, due to the very low bioavailability of metals through the skin, the trace metals in the samples do not pose a realistic risk to the systemic health of consumers.