Toxic Daily Essentials Nepal: Study Finds Lead in Toothpaste, Sindoor, and Eyeliners

5th February 2026, Kathmandu

Your morning routine might be more dangerous than you think. A groundbreaking study by CEPHED has revealed that nearly one-third (31%) of daily-use products tested, including toothpaste, sindoor (vermilion), and eyeliners, contain detectable levels of lead.

Toxic Daily Essentials Nepal

The report, titled “Lead in Consumer Products,” highlights a systemic failure in market regulation, with many products far exceeding both international safety standards and Nepal’s own national guidelines.

The Most Contaminated Products

The study identified sindoor as the highest-risk item, a staple in the daily rituals of millions of married Nepalese women.

Sindoor: 40% of samples tested positive for lead, with some reaching a staggering 124.73 ppm. In the Kathmandu Valley alone, 60% of sindoor samples were contaminated.

Toothpaste: Nearly 45% of tested samples contained lead. Alarmingly, this included popular household brands and even “kids’ orange” variants.

Eyeliners (Kajal/Gajal): Significant lead levels were found in traditional eye care products, which are often applied to infants and children.

Why Lead is a “Silent Killer” for Children

Health experts are particularly concerned about the impact on the younger generation. Children absorb lead at four to five times the rate of adults, and even minute concentrations can cause irreversible damage.

“There is no safe level of lead exposure,” says Ram Charitra Sah, Executive Director of CEPHED. “Twice-daily use of contaminated toothpaste significantly increases chronic exposure, especially as children often swallow the paste while brushing.”

Long-Term Health Risks:

Cognitive Decline: Permanent loss of IQ and learning disabilities.

Behavioural Disorders: Increased risk of ADHD and aggressive behavior.

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Physical Damage: Kidney damage, hypertension, and stunted physical growth.

Reproductive Issues: Infertility, pregnancy complications, and low birth weight.

A Call for Stricter Regulation

The CEPHED report emphasizes that while many countries have banned lead in petrol and paint, its presence in cosmetics and oral care in Nepal indicates a critical gap in law enforcement.

Key Recommendations for the Nepal Government:

Mandatory Testing: Transition from voluntary to mandatory lead limits (ideally below 1 ppm) for all cosmetic and personal care items.

Market Surveillance: Establish a dedicated regulatory authority to monitor imports and local manufacturing.

Labelling Transparency: Enforce strict laws requiring full ingredient lists and country-of-origin information.

Banning High-Risk Imports: Immediately halt the sale of brands found to contain toxic concentrations.

As Nepal prepares for its graduation from the Least Developed Country (LDC) status in late 2026, addressing such public health crises is essential to nurturing a healthy, productive human capital.

Lead Contamination Snapshot (2026)

For more: Toxic Daily Essentials Nepal