In this beauty product sold in supermarket, often associated with natural practices and skin care, potentially toxic heavy metals were found. Although many consumers look for natural alternatives, the truth is that even these products may contain chemicals such as lead, arsenic or chromium, which pose serious health risks.
Aldi stands out in the Occupa Test on Facial Masks
According to the Organization of Consumers and Users (OCPO), only a clay face mask sold at the Aldi Supermarket fully fulfilled the defined safety criteria.
The study, conducted in partnership with other European organizations and an independent laboratory, analyzed 21 masks marketed in supermarkets, perfumeries and parapharmacies. Most contained heavy metal levels higher than the orientative values established by the German BFR authority.
Dangerous metals in almost all tested products
The focus of the study was the detection of seven heavy metals: lead, cadmium, mercury, arsenic, antimony, nickel and chromium. These metals exist naturally in clays, but at high levels can be dangerous. The analysis revealed that 19 of the 21 evaluated masks had concentrations superior to those recommended.
Of all tested products, only two were within the levels considered technically inevitable and safe. One of them is sold at Aldi, the only supermarket to pass this rigorous test of the occupation with distinction.
Brands known among those that fail the tests
Products sold in the supermarket by brands such as Deliplus (Mercado) and Cien (Lidl) were also under analysis. In these cases, the orientative value of one of the heavy metals was exceeded. However, other brands failed in multiple parameters: there were products that exceeded the reference values in four or five different metals.
According to the occupation of the occupation, 14 masks exceeded the boundaries for the arsenic, 13 for lead, 10 for the antimonium, 5 for the chromium and 3 for the cadmium. Mercury and nickel metals were not detected at worrying levels.
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Continuous exposure can have consequences
Although these masks are used for a short time and rinsed after application, Occupa warned that accumulated exposure to heavy metals may have negative health consequences.
Lead, for example, does not have a known exposure secure threshold and can affect the nervous system and the kidneys. Chromium and nickel can cause allergic reactions even after brief contacts.
According to occupy, toxicity does not only depend on the present amount, but also on the chemical form of metals. The repeated presence, even in small doses, can have effects in the medium and long term.
APPEAL TO MORE CONTROL AND REGULATION
Although current European legislation allows the presence of traces of these metals in cosmetics, it requires that they are inevitable and do not represent danger. However, there are no concrete quantitative limits, which leads to ambiguous interpretations by manufacturers.
For this reason, the German BFR criteria applied and requested the Spanish agency of medicines and sanitary products an urgent review of the current regulations.
Proposed measures include the definition of maximum mandatory limits, reinforcement of the controls on raw materials and the requirement of greater responsibility by manufacturers in choosing safer ingredients.
The organization also warns of the widespread belief that natural products are always safe. In the case of clays, their mineral origin means that they may naturally contain hazardous elements. Therefore, even natural products should be subject to laboratory analysis and rigorous rules.
In this context, the product marketed in Aldi stood out as an exception in an panorama marked by generalized failures. For occupy, this result demonstrates that it is possible to manufacture safe cosmetic products, provided that there is effective control and respect for the established safety values.
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