A study of embryotoxicity and teratogenesis of spurious lipsticks chemicals in the chick embryo.

In the present study three brands of spurious lipsticks produced in India b y unknown company were tested for their teratogenic potential in chick embr yos. Red coloured lipstick (R) contained erythrosine (FD & C Red No. 3), me rcury (Hg+2) - 1.256 ppm and lead (Pb+2) - 0.845 ppm. Reddish brown lipstic k (RB) contained erythrosine (FD & C Red No. 3), brilliant blue (FD & C Blu e No. I), Hg+2 - 0.182 ppm, Pb+2 - 0.234 ppm and chromium (Cr+6)-0.068 ppm. Brown lipstick (B) contained fast green (FD & C Red No. 3), erythrosine(FD & C Red 3), Hg+2-0.0255 ppm and Pb+2-0.266 ppm respectively in each lipsti ck. The lipsticks were dissolved in acetone and injected into developing eg gs by inner shell membrane technique. Maximum number of deaths (within 5 da ys of incubation) were observed for R & B lipsticks at a concentration of 2 5 mu g level, but for RE lipstick maximum number of early deaths were obser ved at a concentration of 50 mu g level. Thus indicating R & B lipstick are more embryotoxic than RB. The reason being, R and B lipsticks contained re latively higher concentration Hg+2 and Pb+2 in them. Malformed embryos were prevalently seen in all the three lipsticks and relatively few survivors w ere observed in B and RB lipsticks chemicals injected eggs. Most common mal formations observed open coelom, edema of the lymphatics or lymph blebs, re duced number of digits, underdeveloped embryos, twisted legs, short hind li mbs, stunted growth, regression of vitelline circulation, haemorrhage in th e head and thorax, indicating that the multimetal constituents of lipsticks are capable of bringing about teratogenesis and embryotoxic in nature. Lon g term use of these lipsticks by Indian woman of lower economic background may lead to abnormal embryonic development.