Abstract:
The purpose of this study was to quantify the active ingredients like hydroquinone
and heavy metals (mercury, lead, arsenic and cadmium) from the selected brands of
vanishing creams along with human health risk assessment and in this study the
awareness of consumers about the contamination of vanishing creams with hazardous
ingredients that can cause various skin and health issues and their most preferred brands
both locally manufactured and imported but easily available from the local market was
also assessed by conducting a questionnaire survey. In questionnaire survey 100
participants from both urban and rural areas participated. The questionnaire data was
analyzed by using SPSS program. Total 5 different brands of vanishing creams were
selected according to consumer’s preferences known by conducting questionnaire
survey. Quantification of Hydroquinone was done by using TLC technique, by using
96% of ethanol. Visualization was done after drying by using UV lamp with 253nm UV
light. Hydroquinone was detected in 2 out of 5 samples. The quantification of Mercury
was done by using Cold vapor technique with AAS and 5 out of 5 samples were
contaminated with mercury ranged between 0.005ppm to 1ppm.The analysis of arsenic
from the samples was done by using hydride generation technique with atomic
absorption spectrophotometry (HGAAS). All the samples were clear from arsenic
contamination. Lead and Cadmium were analyzed by Atomic Absorption
Spectrophotometer. Cd was present in 3 out of 5 samples. The concentration of
cadmium was ranged between 0.05 -1ppm.4 out of 5 samples were contaminated with
lead .The maximum contaminated sample with lead was in range 1.50ppm and the least
contaminated sample was in range 0.096ppm.Human health risk was assessed by
chronic daily intake(dermal), hazard quotient and life time carcinogenic risk (LCR).
Hazard quotient was greater than 1 for all samples which means suspected samples are
more likely to cause potential health issues, avoidance of such products is better. The
present study gives the clear results that noxious ingredients are utilized as active
ingredients in suspected samples of vanishing creams. This is quite alarming that there
is no proper check and balance on importing, manufacturing and selling. The
contaminants present in such products have tendency to bio accumulate and afterix
prolonged use they can slowly release the heavy metals in human body and can cause
various health issues and are more likely to effect the users health.
