Heavy Metals reference limits

The following table summarizes reference limits for selected heavy metals in cosmetics across various jurisdictions and guidance sources. All values are expressed in ppm."

Metal	BVL	USA (FDA †/draft)	Canada (Health Canada 2012)	China (GB 7916-2013)	Italy – ISS (ISS Opinions)	SITOX Opinion	Suggested Std
Antimony (Sb)	0.5 (all cosmetics)	n.a. (recommended “as low as technically feasible”)	5	n.a.	10	100	0.5
Arsenic (As)	0.5 (general cosmetics); 2.5 theatrical makeup	3 (proposed limit as total; soluble 0.5)	3 (total); 0.5 (soluble)	2	3 (total) 1 (inorganic) 5 (organic)	5	1
Cadmium (Cd)	0.1	1 (draft)	3	5	0.1	5	0.1
Cobalt (Co)	—	5 (draft)	5	n.a.	5	70	5
Total Chromium (Cr)	only Cr VI 0.5	3	3	n.a.	Cr VI 1; Cr III 5; Cr total 1	Cr III: 100; Cr VI: 25	Cr III: 5; Cr VI: 1; Cr total 1
Mercury (Hg)	0.1 (all cosmetics)	1 (except preservatives for mascara – 65)	1	1	1	1	1
Nickel (Ni)	Indicative 11.6 ppm (monitoring 95th percentile)	10 (draft)	10	n.a.	(1) 10	200	10
Lead (Pb)	2 (all cosmetics) powders/theatrical 5 toothpastes 0.5	10 (FDA limit for all cosmetics, 2016 draft)	10	10	2	20	2

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