The following are common terms and their definitions related to heavy metals testing of cosmetics and OTC drug products.
- Analytical Testing: Laboratory testing used to measure specific substances in a cosmetic product, such as lead, arsenic, mercury, cadmium, or other heavy metals.
- Analyte: The specific substance being measured in the test, such as lead or arsenic.
- Batch: A specific quantity of product made under the same conditions during one manufacturing cycle. It is expected to have uniform quality and characteristics throughout.
- Contaminant: An unwanted substance that may enter a cosmetic through raw materials, manufacturing, packaging, or the environment.
- Cosmetic Matrix: The type of product being tested, such as a cream, lotion, lipstick, powder, or shampoo. Different matrices can affect how the test is performed.
- Heavy Metals: Metallic elements of concern, such as lead, arsenic, cadmium, and mercury, that may be present in cosmetics at low levels. Exposure over time can pose health risks, which is why companies test for heavy metals to help support product safety and compliance.
- ICP-MS: Short for Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry. It is a common analytical technique used to detect very low levels of metals in cosmetic samples.
- Impurity: A substance that is not intentionally added to the product but may still be present at low levels.
- Lead (Pb): One of the most tested heavy metals in cosmetics because it may be present as an impurity.
- Limit of Detection (LOD): The lowest amount of a substance the method can detect.
- Limit of Quantitation (LOQ): The lowest concentration of a heavy metal that can be reliably and accurately measured.
- Not Detected (ND): A result showing that the substance was not found above the method’s detection limit.