Carcinogenic substances in traditional Indian cosmetic powders

Picture: www.akashmondal.com

Sindoor is a traditional red or orange-red colored cometic powder from India. It is used by married Hindu women. During the marriage ceremony, the groom applies sindoor to the parting in the bride's hair to show that she is now a married woman. Subsequent sindoor is applied by the wife as part of her dressing routine.

Traditional sindoor was made with non toxic ingredients such as turmeric, alum, lime, or from other herbal ingredients. Modern sindoor mainly uses vermilion, the purified and powdered form of cinnabar, which is the chief form in which  mercury(II) sulfide naturally occurs. As with other compounds of mercury, sindoor is toxic and must be handled carefully. Sometimes, Lead tetroxide, a toxic substance suspected to be carcinogenic and toxic for reproduction, is also added to sindoor.  In early 2008, allegations of high lead content led the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to recall batches of sindoor from several manufacturers.

Related links:

• Wikipedia "Sindoor"
• US FDA News Alert "FDA Warns Consumers Not to Use Swad Brand Sindoor: Product Contains High Levels of Lead Orange or red powder that is applied to face or scal"