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Environmental Risks
Health Risks
Solutions
General Facts
Biochemistry
100

What types of pollution can heavy metals in hair care cause?

Water and soil pollution

100

Who is most at risk from heavy metals?

Individuals with prior occupational exposure to heavy metals

100

What does switching to hair products that are labelled "clean" mean?

That the product is heavy metal-free

100

Which heavy metals are most commonly found in hair care?

Arsenic, Mercury, Cadmium, and Lead

100

What cells do heavy metals disrupt by binding to them?

Enzymes, proteins, DNA, and cellular membranes

200

How do heavy metals affect wildlife?

Heavy metals can cause bioaccumulation - the process of heavy metals becoming accumulated in living organisms due to being stored in fat tissue, leading to poisoning of predator species.
200

What is one symptom of lead poisoning?

Headaches, Abdominal pain, Fatigue, Irritability

200

How can the general public stay informed about their haircare?

Do their own research, learn about health risks and safety associated with each product

200

What is the common use of heavy metals in hair products?

Hair coloring and relaxers

200

Which naturally occuring metals bound to enzymes are replaced by heavy metals?

Magnesium, Zinc, Iron, and Calcium

300

How do heavy metals affect water systems?

Heavy metals can cause issues to marine plants and animals, and their presence contributes heavily to bioaccumulation

300

What is the main health risk posed by heavy metals to human health?

Damage to nervous system and various organs, could lead to cancer development

300

How can heavy metals be removed from water systems?

Shampoos can be filtered to remove heavy metals, water can go through membrane separation techniques or ion exchange chromatography to remove heavy metals
300

What is the FDA limit for lead in cosmetics? Answer in parts per million.

10 ppm

300
Which heavy metal can displace Zinc in enzymes, therefore impeding their function?

Lead

400

What affects can heavy metals have on wildlife?

Can cause reproductive and developmental issues

400
How do heavy metals from shampoo penetrate skin?

Heavy metals penetrate the skin transappendageal (through hair follicles and sweat ducts)

400

Which common chelating agent, found in many haircare products can bind to metal ions like lead or copper to prevent from interaction with the skin or scalp?

EDTA (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid)

400

According to a study based in Nigeria, which heavy metals were found in concentrations over the safe limit?

Lead, Nickel, and Cobalt (1)

400

Which heavy metals mimic or block important ions which leads to signal transduction pathways to be disrupted when absorbed through the scalp?

Lead, Mercury, Arsenic, Cadmium