Spectral diagnosis of health hazardous toxins in face foundation powders using laser induced breakdown spectroscopy and inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES).

In this work, we applied laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) to estimate the amount of toxic heavy metals (Pb, Cr, Ni) in five different brands of face foundation powders available in the local market using standard calibration curve (CC)-LIBS approach. These samples contain toxic elements like lead, chromium, nickel which are highly carcinogens to cause eczematous and atopic dermatitis. The strongest atomic transition lines of lead (405.7 line), chromium (425.4 nm line), and nickel (336.9 nm line) were used as spectral markers to simultaneously detect these three heavy metals in face powder samples. The LIBS experimental parameters (delay time, laser energy, and focusing lens to target spacing) were optimized to enhance the signal to noise ratio in the resulting LIBS spectra. The consequence of self-absorption on the marker peaks used in the LIBS analysis was investigated and found to be insignificant. We calibrated our LIBS system for these three heavy metals, whose levels were found above the permissible limits. The face foundation powder used every day augments up to considerable exposure of heavy metals in the human body which could cause many skin disorders. Our LIBS quantitative results were also cross-validated by analysis using a standard analytical technique known as inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). This study is highly significant due to the excessive use of cosmetic products especially face powder that could affect the health of millions of people around the globe.