Goswami Krishnajyoti, Mazumdar Ipsita
Faculty of Medicine, Lincoln University College, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Department of Biochemistry, KPC Medical College, Kolkata, India.
Indian J Clin Biochem. 2022 Apr;37(2):206-211. doi: 10.1007/s12291-021-00975-0. Epub 2021 Apr 18.
'Holi' is an Indian festival with a great cultural context, that is celebrated across the world at the onset of spring by applying dry powder of vibrant colours on friends and family. In ancient times holi colours were prepared from different spring flowers, but in modern times, these natural colours have been replaced by commercial industrial dyes prepared by chemical processes. Even products that claim to use organic colours, use synthetic pigments to enhance the brightness of hues. Such synthetic holi colours are sold as herbal colours, in an unregulated manner, in local markets, and no checks can be enforced on the product composition. Also, the quality and the amount of information about the ingredients of the particular packets are missing. These colours sold in the local market often contain hazardous chemicals such as endotoxins, and heavy metals, like lead, potentially causing moderate to severe health problem. Holi colour samples were randomly collected from different sites in Kolkata, India. Red, pink, violet, green and yellow coloured powders were obtained. The powders were prepared and analysed for lead content by Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometric method. Analysis of endotoxin content of different holi colours was also performed by Limulus Amebocyte Lysate test. The lead content was found to be almost 2 times higher in the holi colours, with yellow pigment having the highest concentration, than FDA Standard for maximum permissible limit in cosmetics, which was taken as a reference for safety limit of lead that is dermatologically applicable. The endotoxin levels are alarmingly high, with almost 35 times the FDA reference for dermatological safety limit. Special attention should be given to lead and endotoxin levels in holi colours as their consequences pose serious health threats. Therefore, quality control measures should be recommended for them, in par with products designed for long-term contact with the skin.
胡里节是一个具有深厚文化底蕴的印度节日，世界各地都会在春天伊始庆祝这个节日，人们会向朋友和家人身上涂抹色彩鲜艳的干粉。在古代，胡里节的颜料是用不同的春花制作而成，但在现代，这些天然颜料已被通过化学工艺制备的商业工业染料所取代。甚至那些声称使用有机颜料的产品，也会使用合成色素来增强色调的亮度。这种合成胡里节颜料在当地市场以草药颜料的名义无监管地出售，无法对产品成分进行检查。此外，特定包装上关于成分的质量和信息量也缺失。在当地市场出售的这些颜料通常含有有害化学物质，如内毒素以及铅等重金属，可能会导致中度到重度的健康问题。从印度加尔各答的不同地点随机收集了胡里节颜料样本。获得了红色、粉色、紫色、绿色和黄色的粉末。通过电感耦合等离子体质谱法对这些粉末进行制备并分析铅含量。还通过鲎试剂法对不同胡里节颜料的内毒素含量进行了分析。结果发现，胡里节颜料中的铅含量几乎比美国食品药品监督管理局（FDA）规定的化妆品中铅的最大允许限量高出两倍，其中黄色颜料的浓度最高，该限量被用作皮肤适用的铅安全限量参考。内毒素水平高得惊人，几乎是FDA皮肤安全限量参考值的35倍。应特别关注胡里节颜料中的铅和内毒素水平，因为它们的影响会对健康构成严重威胁。因此，应针对它们推荐质量控制措施，与设计用于长期接触皮肤的产品同等对待。
