Pure Earth uncovers high levels of lead in cosmetic products amid pervasive health repercussions

14 Sep 2023 --- Pure Earth, an international nonprofit organization that specializes in global toxic pollution identification and cleanup, has announced the findings from its global Rapid Market Screening (RMS) study of sources of lead contamination in cosmetics across low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

RMS found high prevalence rates of lead exceeding reference levels – based on public health guidelines or regulatory standards – in 12% of cosmetics of 815 samples.

The RMS reveals percentages of samples from cosmetics across regions that exceeded the relevant reference level. The results showed that Turkey had the highest rate at 100%, followed by 46% in Bolivia and 42% in Egypt.

Pure Earth details how some countries’ leading producers of kohl eyeliners contain high concentrations of lead. These products are bought by consumers all over the world via e-commerce retailers.

Is lead more of a threat than cholesterol?
The study analyzed consumer goods across 25 LMICs. Ninety to ninety-five percent of the lead burden was in LMICs. Pure Earth describes it as the “most comprehensive” global survey of lead contamination ever conducted.

The lead in kohl eyeliners poses a health threat to users.“Pure Earth’s RMS study… demonstrates that lead pollution knows no boundaries. While severe lead contamination is well documented in toxic hotspots that poison local communities in many LMICs, our research indicates that hundreds of millions of people have elevated blood lead levels due to continuous, long-term exposure to household lead sources, increasing serious health risks across lifespans,” says Pure Earth’s president, Richard Fuller.

“More people are dying from cardiovascular disease caused by lead exposure than by cholesterol.”

A seven-point action plan is detailed in the report, beginning with recommendations to expand blood lead level surveillance and home-based source assessments, then detailing strategies to get lead out of consumer products that are commonly contaminated.

To solve this widespread exposure, Pure Earth recommends going to the source, tracking contaminated products to their production facilities and then working with governments and producers to eliminate lead use. Efforts to eradicate lead in consumer products could have global impacts.

The nonprofit notes how this approach solved the widespread contamination of spices with lead chromate in Georgia and Bangladesh.

Ana Navas-Acien, professor and vice chair of research in the Department of Environmental Health Sciences at Columbia Mailman School of Public Health, says: “The data suggest that lead exposure levels should be considered when cardiovascular disease is presented and remediating efforts may be required to help best care for the patient, including eliminating or significantly reducing exposure to lead products that may be in the household.”

Health effects of lead
According to Pure Earth, 5.5 million adults died from cardiovascular disease due to lead exposure. This number is six times greater than the 2019 Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study estimate.Lead poses damaging effects to human health.

The study analyzed over 5,000 consumer and food products in 70 marketplaces across 25 countries. Pure Earth also found high levels of lead in metal foodware (52%), ceramic foodware (45%), various types of paint (11% to 48%) and toys (13%).

The global financial cost of lead exposure in 2019 was US$6 trillion, equivalent to 7% of global GDP. In LMICs, it accounted for more than 10% of GDP.

“It is now clearer than ever that lead is the most damaging chemical pollutant to global public health. We see very little public awareness, resources and action. Despite this, we simply cannot allow generation after generation of children to continue suffering from permanent brain damage and premature death due to this metal,” stresses Drew McCartor, Pure Earth’s executive director.

“It must be removed from all non-essential uses. There is no reason to continue allowing lead in our [cosmetics] that could cause exposure. Solutions exist and must be prioritized.”

By Sabine Waldeck

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