Background: Metal impurities such as nickel and chrome are present in natural ingredients-containing
cosmetic products. These traces are unavoidable due to the ubiquitous nature of these elements. Dead
Sea mud is a popular natural ingredient of cosmetic products in which nickel and chrome residues are
likely to occur.
Objective: To analyze the potential systemic and local toxicity of Dead Sea mud taking into consideration
Dead Sea muds' natural content of nickel and chrome.
Methods: The following endpoints were evaluated: (Regulation No. 1223/20, 21/12/2009) systemic and
(SCCS's Notes of Guidance) local toxicity of topical application of Dead Sea mud; health reports during
the last five years of commercial marketing of Dead Sea mud.
Results and conclusions: Following exposure to Dead Sea mud, MoS (margin of safety) calculations for
nickel and chrome indicate no toxicological concern for systemic toxicity. Skin sensitization is also not to
be expected by exposure of normal healthy skin to Dead Sea mud. Topical application, however, is not
recommended for already nickel-or chrome-sensitized persons. As risk assessment of impurities present
in cosmetics may be a difficult exercise, the case of Dead Sea mud is taken here as an example of a natural
material that may contain traces of unavoidable metals.
© 2015 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. This is an open access article under the CC BY license