New Yorkers Urged to Avoid Imported Eye Makeup with High Lead Levels

By Mary Mitchell

Published on April 26, 2007

The Health Department found excessive levels of lead in products such as kohl, surma, and kajal products that are often imported illegally from manufacturers in Pakistan and other Asian countries. For example, a product named "Pure Kohl from the Waters of ZamZam" was found to be 36 percent lead, and another, "Hashmi Surma Special," was found to be 47 percent lead. The federal recommended limit for lead in cosmetics is 10 parts per million (ppm). The lead values in the products at issue are in the tens of thousands or hundreds of thousands ppm.

The other two products reported are "Hashmi Kohl Aswad" and "Hashmi Kajal." All of the products investigated are widely available at New York neighborhood stores, although they have been banned by the FDA. New York Health Commissioner Dr. Thomas Frieden advised all persons who have these products to stop using them immediately and to get a blood lead test.

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