A study of mutagenic effects of spurious lipsticks chemicals in Drosophilamelanogaster.

In the present study three brands of spurious lipsticks produced in India b y unknown company were tested for their mutagenic and teratogenic potential in Drosophila melanogaster. The flies were treated at both larval and adul t stages with 1 to 10% concentrations of lipstick's in acetone. The breedin g potential, abnormal development and sex linked recessive lethals were ass essed after treatment with each lipstick solution. The red coloured lipstic k (R) contained erythrosine (FD & C Red No. 3), mercury (Hg+2) -1.256 ppm a nd lead (Pb+2) -0.845 ppm. Reddish brown lipstick (RB) contained erythrosin e (FD & C Red No. 3), brilliant blue (FD & C Blue No. 1), Hg+2 - 0.182 ppm, Pb+2 -0.234 ppm and chromium (Cr+6) -0.068 ppm. Brown lipstick (B) contain ed fast green (FD & C Red No. 3), erythrosine-FD & C Red No. 3), Hg+2 -0.25 5 ppm and Pb+2 -0.266 ppm respectively in each lipstick. The treated adult flies and larvae showed low breeding potential and delayed emergence respec tively, indicating reproductive inhibition by the components of the lipstic ks. Moreover, 30% of the flies, which emerged from the lipsticks treated la rval groups or adult treated groups were found to be minute mutants (M), wh ere all the chromosomes are affected by the mutagens. In addition to this, when minute mutants were allowed to inbreed within the same treated groups, they showed prolonged life cycle to complete one generation. Hence it can be concluded from this experiment that the lipsticks chemicals under study are potential mutagens. Long-term use of these lipsticks by Indian women of lower economic background may lead to abnormal embryonic development.