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Kohl and Sindoor: the potential source of
lead poisoning
By: Dr. V.P. Kapoor*
The cosmetics are the utility products used
extensively worldwide for maintaining and improving general appearance of
face and other parts of the body e.g. mouth, hand fingers, eye, hair etc.
The main objective of the cosmetic application is to look more impressive,
beautiful and smart to a considerable extent. Kohl (kajal/surma) and
Sindoor (kumkum) are the two important traditional cosmetics, which are
used since ancient times. Kohls are very popular in Asia, Africa and Middle
East, which are applied around the eyes to beautify them. It is extensively
used by women and generally believed to be useful as an eye tonic. In India,
Sindoor is an essential cosmetic item for women, who religiously and
traditionally apply it on the forehead and at the parting of the hair. The
Sindoor is used by the married women in India every day as well as on
special occasions like Sankranti and Navratri to increase the longevity of
their husbands. Women are frequently using these two traditional cosmetics
without knowing the health hazards of these utility products. It is now well
established that these items are the potential source of lead poisoning.
Health hazards of kohls
This traditional cosmetic is used for eye
beautification in Asian, African and Middle Eastern countries. The
popularity of kohls can be understood by the fact that the product is
available in developed countries viz. USA and EU countries because of its
demand by their immigrant population. According to different published
reports, kohl contains up to 50% lead content and may be a potential source
of lead poisoning. C. Parry et. al., (Environ Health Prospect, 1991,
94, 121-23) have analyzed 22 samples, purchased from USA, UK, Morocco
and Mauritania which originated from India, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. Nine
of these samples contained lead levels less than 0.6%; six samples had 3.31
to 37.3% lead and remainder possessed lead content in excess of 50%. Another
report (AD Hardy et.al., J Ethanopharmacol, 1998, 60, 223-34)
is based on the analysis of 47 kohl samples used in Oman through X-ray power
diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. Out of these, 18 samples were
made in Oman and in five of these, the main component was galena (PbS). Of
the other 13 samples, 12 were based on amorphous carbon and one on hematite
(Fe2O3). The remaining 29 samples were made in other
countries and have been found to contain either PbS or Pb3O4
or Fe2O3 or ZnO or CaCO3 or H3BO3as
the main component.
Clinical trials had also been made in Israel
to assess the impact of kohls with reference to blood lead, zinc
protoporphyrin, haemoglobin, mean corpuscular volume (MCV), serum iron and
calcium (A Nir et. al., Isr J Med Sci, 1992, 28, 417-21).
Assessment was made on infants, aged 6-16 months, on 24 kohl users and 30
non-kohl users. It was found that blood lead levels were significantly
higher in infants to whom kohl was applied (11.2 vs 4.3 microgram/dl, P less
than 0.001) and were greater than 20 microgram/dl in three of them. In the
non-kohl users, blood lead levels were significantly higher in infants whose
mothers used kohls ( 5.2 vs 2.8 microgram/dl, P less than 0.02). No
significant difference was found in other parameters. The clinical trial
clearly indicated that application of kohl to infant or mother’s eyes was
associated with a significant increase in the infants blood lead levels and
in some cases with asymptomatic lead poisoning.
Hazards of
Sindoor
Traditionally, the red
Sindoor was made at home from turmeric and alum. The turmeric powder,
which becomes red when mixed with lime juice or lime powder, moistened in
water, or with alum, iodine and camphor, or with oil and sea shell powder
(calcium salts), or aguru, chandan and kasturi. It can
also be made of sandalwood mixed with musk, or from a mixture of saffron
ground with kusumbha flower. Another traditional ingredient used in making
Sindoor was raw rice in water heated in a pan until it formed into a
glue-like red carbonaceous compound, which solidified on cooling and finally
powdered. It is also believed that in olden days, sindoor was also made with
a special type of red marble stone, covered with turmeric and a little oil
and left undisturbed for a few days, after which it turned into red powder
However, these traditional
preparations have long been forgotten after the emergence of synthetic dye
industry, which offered a variety of brilliant and fast red dyes at a
cheaper price. Now-a-days, Sindoor is produced from chemical dyes,
synthetic materials and lead salts. Some of the manufactures produce it by
powdering crude red lead (Pb3O4). Commonly Sindoor
prepared at large scale mostly contains very toxic, low grade commercial red
lead oxide as such or along with other synthetic or natural bulking
materials. In general, manufacturers, aim is to produce a fast blood red
powder at lowcost using any brilliant red dye without considering the
hazards and after-effects of the product. It is not surprising that red
colour might be obtained by using Rhodamine B dye, which can induce
hereditary disorders. Red colour may also be derived from mercury sulphite,
which can cause skin cancer. All these toxic substances can cause hair loss,
oedema and erythema. The market is flooded with unbranded products, which
generally cause toxicity problems.
Current status of lead
poisoning
Mankind has been using lead for
over 6000 years, and solely as a result of anthropogenic activities, lead
has become the most ubiquitous toxic metal. Hippocrates was probably the
first of the ancient physicians to recognize lead as the cause of colic.
Lead toxicity was recognised and recorded as early as 2000 BC and its
widespread use has been a cause of endemic chronic plumbism in several
societies throughout history. The last three centuries also witnessed the
worst outbreaks of lead poisoning among adults, which were occupational in
origin, although environmental pollution also reported adverse effects of
lead on health. Many reviews and references are available in literature
related to health effects of exposure to lead. Now-a-days, there is much
concern about its exposure from occupational and community environment,
contaminated food and consumer items, and water. In India, some industries
especially those making batteries, cables, paints, sheets, pipes, industrial
alloys are the major consumers of lead. The possible sources of lead
exposure are contaminated soil and water, mining, ceramics, food
adulterants, pencils, toys, industrial effluents, cosmetics and herbal
medicines. In developed countries, lead exposure is on the decline due to
implementation of environmental and occupational regulations but in
developing countries lead poisoning continues to be a serious problem.
Amongst traditional cosmetics,
kohl and Sindoor are the possible sources of lead exposure in India.
The Sindoor available in market is usually of non standard
specifications and parameters and the quality is generally unfit for skin
application. As there are no strict regulations for cosmetics, there is
every likelihood that some other harmful and banned red dyes could be used.
The same situation exists for kohls as a lot of manufactures produced them
through traditional practice without considering health hazards of the
produce. Even most of the branded products do not carry the mandatory label
of ingredients, colouring agent and Eco-mark. Eco-marked products assure the
quality, performance and safety requirements of the Bureau of Indian
Standards (BIS). These products are also required to declare the list of
critical inputs and are not supposed to be manufactured from any
carcinogenic or otherwise harmful ingredients.
The presence of lead in cosmetics is strictly
prohibited in UK and USA.
Conclusions
Kohl and Sindoor available in market
contain appreciable amount of lead and thus become a source of lead
poisoning. Lead exposure can result in a wide
range of biological effects, depending upon the level and duration of
exposure. When traces of lead salts are ingested, inhaled or absorbed, these
can harm virtually every organ in the human body, especially the brain,
kidney and reproductive system. The issue of traditional cosmetics
containing lead requires a major attention for their thorough examination.
The regulations regarding the acceptable limits of lead concentration are
yet to be fixed. Prioritizing identification, monitoring of sources and
implementation of regulatory norms are absolutely necessary.
*Emeritus Scientist-CSIR,
National Botanical Research
Institute, Lucknow-226 001,
India
E-mail: [email protected] |
