The Assessment of Toxic Metals in Plants Used in Cosmetics and Cosmetology

Agnieszka Fischer, Barbara Brodziak-Dopierała, Krzysztof Loska and Jerzy Stojko
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Agnieszka Fischer: Department of Toxicology and Bioanalysis, Medical University of Silesia, 41-200 Sosnowiec, Poland
Barbara Brodziak-Dopierała: Department of Toxicology and Bioanalysis, Medical University of Silesia, 41-200 Sosnowiec, Poland
Krzysztof Loska: Institute of Water and Wastewater Engineering, Silesian University of Technology, 44-100 Gliwice, Poland
Jerzy Stojko: Department of Toxicology and Bioanalysis, Medical University of Silesia, 41-200 Sosnowiec, Poland

IJERPH, 2017, vol. 14, issue 10, 1-12

Abstract: Heavy metals polluting the natural environment are absorbed by plants. The use of herbs as components of cosmetics may pose a health risk for humans. The aim of the study was to determine the concentrations of Pb, Cd and Hg in selected species of herbs (horsetail Equisetum arvense , nettle Urtica dioica , St. John’s wort Hypericum perforatum , wormwood Artemisia absinthium , yarrow Achillea millefolium , cottonwood Solidago virgaurea ) self-collected from the natural environment in two different locations, and purchased in stores on the territory of Poland. The concentration of the metals studied was: 4.67–23.8 mg/kg Pb, 0.01–1.51 mg/kg Cd, 0.005–0.028 mg/kg Hg. Different concentrations of metals, depending on species and origin of plants, were found. The mean concentration of all studied metals was the lowest in St. John’s wort, and the highest in nettle. In herbs purchased in Polish stores, the concentration of Pb was higher than in plants self-collected in the natural environment.

Keywords: plants; AAS; cadmium; lead; mercury (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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