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Potential Health Risks of Zn, Fe, and Pb in Medical Skin Creams and Cosmetic Products Derived from Plants in Iraq

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Abstract

Medical skin creams (SC) and cosmetic products (CP) specially derived from plants have natural chemicals as ingredients which are a major source of heavy metal releases. Therefore, the presence of harmful heavy metals in these materials is a matter of concern. This study has been carried out to assess the concentrations of heavy metals such as zinc (Zn), iron (Fe), and lead (Pb) in skin creams and cosmetic products that are available in Iraqi pharmacies using atomic absorption spectroscopy. Thirty-three samples from different Iraqi pharmacies of beauty creams, including 13 samples of skin creams and ten samples of cosmetic products. Health risk parameters such as chronic daily intake (CDI), total non-cancer risk (H.I.), and total cumulative cancer risk (TCCR) have been calculated. Based on the results, it is found that the average value of Zn, Fe, and Pb concentrations for SC samples in unit mg/kg were 65.33 ± 14.56, 100.52 ± 21.05, and 2.62 ± 0.64, respectively. At the same time, the average value of Zn, Fe, and Pb concentrations for CP samples in unit mg/kg were 2.30 ± 0.48, 24.18 ± 6.87, and 4.79 ± 1.18, respectively. The results of health risk exposure for SC samples were higher than those for CP samples. But, the values of health risk parameters were within acceptable limits according to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Consequently, there is no potential health risk for using medical skin creams and cosmetic products in the present study by Iraqi people.

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Data generated or analyzed during this study are included in this published article.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics, Al-Mustansiriyah University, Collage Science, Baghdad, Iraq

    Dhuha Jalil Lawi & Waleed salah abdulwhaab

  2. Department of Laser and Optoelectronics Techniques Engineering, Engineering Technical Collage, Al-Furat Al-Awsat Technical University, AlNajaf, Iraq

    Dhuha Jalil Lawi

  3. Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, University of Kufa, Najaf, Iraq

    Ali Abid Abojassim

Authors
  1. Dhuha Jalil Lawi
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  2. Waleed salah abdulwhaab
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  3. Ali Abid Abojassim
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Contributions

All authors contributed equally to the design and conception of the study. Dhuha Jalil Lawi, Waleed Salah Abdul Wahab, and Ali Abid Abojassim performed material preparation, data collection, and analysis. Ali Abid Abojassim wrote the first draft of the manuscript; all authors reviewed the manuscript and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Ali Abid Abojassim.

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Lawi, D.J., abdulwhaab, W.s. & Abojassim, A.A. Potential Health Risks of Zn, Fe, and Pb in Medical Skin Creams and Cosmetic Products Derived from Plants in Iraq. Biol Trace Elem Res 201, 4167–4176 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-022-03493-z

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