'Sindoor' sold in India, US have unsafe levels of lead
- Of the 118 sindoor samples tested, 95 were from South Asian stores in New Jersey.
- On an overall, about 80 percent of the samples had at least some lead content.
- A third of the samples contained levels above the limit set by the US Food and Drug Administration.
FollowSindoor powder sold in the United States and in India may have unsafe levels of lead content in it. According to researchers, the vermilion or the sindoor is used in various religious ceremonies. Women also don the sindoor to mark their marriage and also use it for occassions like 'sindoor khela' or playing with the sindoor, which is held on the last day of Durga Puja. According to several researches, manufactureres use lead tetroxide to give it a distinctive red colour.
Of the 118 sindoor samples tested, 95 were from South Asian stores in New Jersey. Another 23 were taken from stores in Mumbai and New Delhi. On an overall, about 80 percent of the samples had at least some lead content. A third of the samples contained levels above the limit set by the US Food and Drug Administration. Meanwhile, Dr. Derek Shendell of Rutgers University in Piscataway, New Jersey, said, "We are diverse here with a lot of individuals who emigrate or travel from many parts of the world through airports on a weekly basis. If there is a product that could be contaminated with lead, it’s of public health interest. There’s possibility of spread through ingestion or inhalation."
He further added, "There is no safe level of lead. It shouldn’t be in our bodies, especially for children under age 6.” Moreover, the U.S Centres for Disease Control and Prevention said, "Even low levels of lead in blood have been shown to affect IQ, ability to pay attention, and academic achievement. And effects of lead exposure cannot be corrected. The most important step . . . is to prevent lead exposure before it occurs."
Interestingly, the FDA's limit for lead in cosmetics is 20 micrograms per gram. 19% of the U.S. samples and 43% of the India samples exceeded that limit. Five samples, three from the US and two from India contained more than 10,000 micrograms. Since determining which sample is the best among thousands of them, it is important to understand how important is its usage in one's life. Being a cultural sensitive thing, it is advisable to discuss the ramifications that come with it and whether it is worth taking a risk.
