A heavy metal is any metal or metalloid of environmental concern. Commonly encountered heavy metals are chromium, cobalt, nickel, copper, zinc, arsenic, selenium, silver, cadmium, antimony, mercury, thallium and lead.
Heavy metals like lead, arsenic, mercury, aluminium, zinc, chromium and iron are found in a wide variety of personal care products including Lip products, whitening toothpaste, eyeliner, nail color, foundations, sunscreens, eye shadows, blush, concealer, moisturizers, eye drops.
Some metals are intentionally added as ingredients, while others are contaminants.
Exposure to metals has been linked to health concerns including reproductive, immune and nervous system toxicity.
Heavy metals have no function in the body and can be highly toxic.
Heavy metals are taken into the body via inhalation, ingestion, and skin absorption. If heavy metals enter and accumulate in body tissues faster than the body’s detoxification pathways can dispose of them, a gradual buildup of these toxins will occur.High-concentration exposure is not necessary to produce a state of toxicity in the body, as heavy metals accumulate in body tissues and, over time, can reach toxic concentration levels.
