Fumes and melting antimony cause dermatoses and skin lesions. However, on the other hand antimony sulphide has been found to induce DNA strand lesions but not DNA protein crosslink. There are fair chances of “Cosmetic Plumbism”. Some lead may also be absorbed through the eyes. When a person uses ‘Surma’, it can get on to the hands and the user may ingest the lead through hand-to-mouth contact. It is used to stop bleeding and after circumcision for hygienic measures. The ‘Surma’ is traditionally applied to the conjunctival surfaces rather than to the outside of the eyelids with the help of a metal applicator used to streak eye powder across the eyeball. The name ‘Surma’ derives from the Urdu word for antimony, as its major constituent was antimony sulphide, recently due to scarcity of antimony sulphide, lead sulphide has been used. The ‘Surma’ (eye cosmetic) use as eye liner is a popular practice and people firmly believe that it is safe to use. Many women also apply ‘Surma’ to their infant’s faces, uninformed about its potential damage to every organ system in the body.Ī study of kohl manufactured in Egypt and India found that a third of the samples studied contained lead while the remaining two-thirds contained amorphous carbon, zincite cuprite, goethite, elemental silicon or talc, haematite, aluminium, and organic compounds. Manufacturing is not regulated and lead content varies greatly, from 16 to 70 %. Surma, an ore that is mined and ground into a powder, has been used for centuries as a cosmetic and to ward off evil. Pregnant women and children under 6 years of age absorb lead in the highest quantities, and even low levels of lead exposure are considered hazardous to pregnant women. Lead poisoning is a global problem, considered to be the most important environmental disease in children.

Children may show behavioural problem or even reduced mental capacity at low exposures to lead.

Environmental exposure to lead can be hazardous to human health and is particularly dangerous for children because of their immature neurological system.

Hidden colors 1 tubes