Analysis of the Situation on Contamination of Prohibited Harmful Substances in Facial Cosmetics In AmphurNangrong, Buriram Province During 2013-2016

Abstract

Objective: To study prevalence and distribution of the contamination of prohibited harmful substances in facial cosmetics, to study relationship between various factors and the contamination and to determine probability of contamination of cosmetics. Methods: The researcher used the results from the inspection of cosmetics selling places and the analysis of 143 facial cosmetics with unlawful labels by using the preliminary test kits during the years 2013-2016in Nangrong district, Buriram province. Ability of risk scores to predict contamination of prohibited substances was assessed using the Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve. Results: Inspection of cosmetics selling places revealed 35.98% of the stores had in their stores cosmetics with illegal labels or dangerous cosmetics according to announcement of Ministry of Public Health. The inspections of shop stalls, cosmetics booths or stores in flea market revealed 95.65, 80.39 and 70 percent of them respectively, sold cosmetics with illegal labels or the dangerous cosmetics. About 54.55 percent of the tested samples were found to contain prohibited substances. Mercury and mercury compounds, retinoic acid and hydroquinone were identified in 35.66%, 18.18%, and 11.89% of the examined cosmetics respectively. Factors significantly related to the contamination of prohibited substance were being sold in cosmetics stores (OR = 11.35), being sold in stalls (OR = 46.57), being sold in retail stores or groceries (OR = 71.11), being sold in wholesalers (OR = 62.45) (when being sold in a beauty salon as a reference group), being white in color (OR = 42.91), being yellow or orange cosmetics (OR = 6.83) (when the beige, egg shell color or being clear or colorless as a reference group), being cream type (OR = 19.28) and having Thai label (OR = 9.51). Risk score for each factor ranged from 0-7. The maximum total risk score for all cosmetic factors was 21. Risk scores can predict contamination of prohibited substances with area under the ROC curve 0.84. Cosmetics with a risk score  10 had a chance of 0.11 times less likely to contain prohibited substances compared to that of total samples. Cosmetics with a risk score 15 were 26.6 times more likely to be contaminated with prohibited substances compared to that of total samples. Conclusion: Cosmetics with unlawful labels are more likely to be contaminated with hazardous substances. The risk score of the cosmetics can be used to select samples for further testing by the authorities and as a guide for consumers to protect themselves in the selection of cosmetics.