Author(s)

Onyeka Okeke¹, Harold Chinedu Okeke², Ernest Ezeh³, Charles Chukwubuikem Aniobi⁴, Uchechi Rowland Imoh¹

¹Plastic Production Unit, Scientific Equipment Development Institute, Akwuke, Nigeria.
²Department of Geological Sciences, Nnamdi Azikwe University Awka, Nigeria.
³Department of Chemical Engineering, Nnamdi Azikwe University, Awka, Nigeria.
⁴Department of Community Medicine, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, Enugu, Nigeria.

Studies were carried out to determine asbestos fiber levels in cosmetic (talc powder) and non-cosmetic (gauze pad, plastic filler and ceiling tiles) products sold in market outlets within Enugu, metropolis, Enugu State, Nigeria, using standard established procedures. The samples were pretreated based on its physical make-up and the asbestos fiber levels determined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy dispersing spectroscopy techniques. The mean range of asbestos fiber was, 0.02 - 0.06; 0.01 - 0.05; 0.01 - 0.04 and 0.03 - 0.06 f/cc for talc powder, gauze pads, plastic filler and ceiling tile samples respectively. The mean levels of asbestos fibers in the studied samples were within the recommended permissible limits. The samples contain asbestos fiber in the following decreasing order: ceiling tiles > talc powders > gauze pads > plastic fillers. Asbestos fiber was found present in the investigated local and foreign items sold in market outlets within the metropolis. This study shows that despite the ban on the use of asbestos in the industry in the manufacture of items meant for human use, its enforcement appears weak and lethargic and this could portend health danger especially in the use of produced items with high asbestos fiber friability such as talc powder.

Asbestos Fiber, Talc Powder, Plastic Filler, Ceiling Tile and Gauze Pad

Okeke, O. , Okeke, H. , Ezeh, E. , Aniobi, C. and Imoh, U. (2020) Determination of Levels of Asbestos Fiber in Cosmetic and Non-Cosmetic Products Sold within Enugu Metropolis—Enugu State, Nigeria. Journal of Environmental Protection, 11, 862-871. doi: 10.4236/jep.2020.1110054.