CONCENTRATION OF LEAD, CADMIUM AND IRON IN SELECTED HAIR DYE SAMPLES WITHIN A SELECTED AREA IN BENIN METROPOLIS

ABSTRACT

This study was designed to assess the concentration of heavy metals present in locally available hair dye samples within a selected area in Benin City, Southern Nigeria, this was done to provide information on potential risks from heavy metals exposure from their use. Six samples were purchased locally and subsequently extracted using acid wet digestion (nitric acid: perchloric acid). The concentrations of lead (Pb), Cadmium (Cd) and iron (Fe) were determined in 6 brands of hair dyes by using an Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS). Remarkably, significant concentrations of the heavy metals studied was detected in all the samples analyzed. The highest concentration of lead (Pb) was obtained for Chenyi hair color powder, with a concentration of 2.00 mg/kg while the least concentration was obtained for OGM romantic hair color, with a concentration of 0.50 mg/kg. Lead was not detected in black and nature hair color. Chenyi and Tovch hair color powder gave the highest concentration of Cadmium (Cd) with a concentration of 2.50 mg/kg while OGM and Olive hair color sample reported the least concentration of 1.00 mg/kg. Chenyi gave the highest concentration of iron (Fe) with a concentration of 260 mg/kg while Olive bleaching hair powder sample reported the least concentration of 90.0 mg/kg. The concentration of the heavy metals in mg/kg in the samples ranged 0.50 mg/kg to 2.00 mg/kg from lead, 90.0 mg/kg to 260 mg/kg from iron and 1.00 mg/kg to 2.50 mg/kg for cadmium. It is evident from the current study that using some hair dyes exposes users to low concentrations of toxic heavy metals, which may be detrimental to their health because heavy metals have been shown to cause diseases like cancer and to accumulate over time in the biological system.