Statistical analysis of skin lightening and medicated soaps in other to assess the level of mercury, lead, cadmium and chromium by the use of AAS

Abstract

In this research, twenty brands of soaps from different companies were analyzed based on their soap characterization and four different heavy metal content of mercury (Hg), lead (Pd), chromium (Cr), and cadmium (Cd) using Atomic Adsorption Spectrophotometer. The aim was to find out if the soaps contained any of these heavy metals and if so, what quantity and in what quantities is acceptable for health purposes. Out of the twenty different soaps analyzed (labeled A - T), mercury, was present in all the soaps which were above the standard permissible limit of 0.2mg/l, cadmium and lead was only present in samples labeled J, M, Nr and P in a very little amount but lead was highly detected in sample S which was above the permissible limit of 0.1mg/l and 1.0mg/l respectively. While chromium was detected only in sample P in a very little amount below the standard limit of 0.1mg/l. From the statistical analysis of the multiple comparisons calculated, the significant difference between the standard and the sample, shows that samples I, K, J and F have the least significant difference while samples P, O, R, H and S have the highest significant difference. These results makes samples I, K, F and G the best quality out of the twenty samples analyzed.