Analysis of Heavy Metal Concentrations in Cosmetics Derived from Dead Sea Mud and Comparative Products

This study assessed heavy-metal content in Dead Sea mud-based cosmetics and comparison products to inform safety evaluation. Flame atomic absorption spectroscopy quantified Ni, Pb, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Co, Mn, and Zn in 95 samples (raw Dead Sea mud and commercial body, face, hair, and hand products) after acid digestion. Raw mud was sampled from the Jordanian shoreline, and cosmetics were purchased from the local market. Dead Sea mud in cosmetics generally contained lower concentrations of most metals than raw mud, except Zn, which was frequently elevated because ZnO is added for skin protection; comparison with non-Dead Sea mud products showed distinct heavy-metal profiles. Representative values for Zn in Dead Sea mud-based products were ~ 174% of crude-mud levels for face products, ~ 105% for body products, and ~ 42% for hair and hand products, and enrichment-factor analysis indicated minor enrichment for Cd (EF ≈ 4), moderate enrichment for Zn (EF ≈ 10), and EF < 3 for other elements. International cosmetic guidelines showed variation between jurisdictions; using Canadian and German benchmark values, maximum Ni, Cr, and Co concentrations in our dataset were below reference limits, whereas Pb and Cd occasionally exceeded stricter "technically avoidable" thresholds. Overall, Dead Sea mud-based cosmetics exhibited low-to-moderate metal levels that were generally consistent with current European and North American guidance, with elevated Zn reflecting formulation choices and underscoring the importance of routine quality control of raw materials and finished products.