Health Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals and Radiation Exposure in Locally Produced Cosmetic Powders used in Benue State

Abstract

This study evaluates the health risks of heavy metals (HMs) and naturally occurring radionuclides (NRs) in fourteen locally produced cosmetic powders from Benue State, using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry (AAS) and a NaI(Tl) detector. Mean concentrations of HMs were Cd (0.104 ± 0.002 ppm), Co (0.022 ± 0.002 ppm), Cr (0.006 ± 0.001 ppm), Ni (0.236 ± 0.002 ppm), and Pb (0.785 ± 0.002 ppm), all below WHO limits (0.30, 1.0, 5.0, 0.60, and 10.0 ppm, respectively). Only Cd in one sample (1.24 ppm) exceeded its limit, yielding a 7.1% exceedance rate. Carcinogenic risk (10⁻⁶–10⁻⁷), hazard index (<0.1), and hazard quotient values confirm negligible non-carcinogenic or carcinogenic risk. Mean activity concentrations of ²³²Th (22.5 ± 1.3 Bq/kg), ²³⁸U (18.9 ± 1.1 Bq/kg), and ⁴⁰K (312.6 ± 5.7 Bq/kg), together with absorbed dose (0.11 mSv/yr), radium equivalent (46.3 Bq/kg), and hazard indices (≤0.23), are all below IAEA/UNSCEAR safety thresholds. These results suggest that the cosmetic powders pose no significant toxicological or radiological health risks, supporting safe patronage and the growth of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the region.