Abstract

context: Kohl or kajal is an ancient and popular eye cosmetic. In its simplest form, it is a fine black or gray powder that contains high level of lead (usually in the form of lead sulfate). Kohl is a popular eye product and is prepared in ultra-fine form using galena along with some other ingredients. Presently, most of women and adolescents use it in their daily make-up regime to enhance their beauty. However, it is known to contain varying levels of toxic compounds in the form of additives making it highly unsafe for use. aims: In the current study, an attempt has been made to determine the concentration of lead, nickel, and cobalt in kohl samples. materials and method: Ten different Kohl samples of different brands were bought from online and nearby markets. The evaluation of heavy metals such as lead, nickel and cobalt were determined from the samples usingInductively Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectrometry(ICP-OES). results: Results obtained in the study have been alarming especially in the case of lead which was found to be as high as 8 ppm, nickel 5ppm and cobalt 4 ppm in different brands. conclusions: Regular application of kajal with excessive high content of heavy metals leads to serious health hazards. key messages: Kohl containing heavy metals can have health hazards with long term usage and hence should be used judiciously

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