Determination of Heavy Metals in Whitening Creams Using ICP-AES

Abstract

Skin whitening creams often contain toxic heavy metals like mercury, lead, and cadmium, posing severe health risks such as neurotoxicity and kidney damage. In Malaysia, many unregulated creams exceed permissible limits set by the National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency (NPRA) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). These metals enter the body through dermal absorption, leading to long-term toxicity. Inductively Coupled Plasma-Atomic Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-AES) is a reliable method for detecting heavy metals. Stricter regulations and monitoring are essential to ensure consumer safety and prevent hazardous exposure.