Health Canada Cosmetic Notification

Heavy metals occur naturally in the environment. They are a fact of life, but that doesn't mean I want lead or arsenic in my toothpaste. Heavy metals are prohibited as ingredients in cosmetics in Canada but still make their way into the products we put on and in our bodies. They start out as impurities in the raw materials used and end up in the final product. Health Canada is currently consulting with interested parties on proposed guidelines for heavy metal levels in cosmetics sold in Canada.

We can absorb heavy metals in three ways, through our skin, orally or through inhalation and the level of exposure, manner of absorption and the effect differ from metal to metal. Each heavy metal has a tolerable weekly intake outlined by the World Health Organization (WHO) based on body weight.

For example, lead affects numerous organs such as the kidneys, and systems including the central nervous system. As with all heavy metals, children are at more risk due to their size, hand to mouth habits and developmental stage. Lead can be tolerated, according to WHO, at 25 micrograms of lead per kilogram of body weight per week for children.

Other heavy metals that Health Canada are looking at include arsenic, cadmium, mercury and antimony. Absorption and effect depends on the heavy metal in question, the manner of exposure (i.e. oral vs. skin), the amount of product used and site of application (i.e. around the mouth vs. on legs), as well as the number of products used with heavy metal impurities.

Health Canada has come up with the following limits
· Lead: 10 parts per million
· Arsenic: 3ppm
· Cadmium: 3ppm
· Mercury: 3ppm
· Antimony: 5ppm

These levels are based on
· review of other country's limits (such as Germany which has already implemented a program),
· levels found in products sampled in Canada,
· safe levels for susceptible groups such as children


If you would like to submit comments about the proposed guidelines, you can send emails to cosmetics@hc-sc.gc.ca. They are accepting comments from January 19th to March 4th.