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June 2, 2004
Active Metals in Cosmetic Products
The Effect of Active Metals in Cosmetic Products on Protein Aggregation: Implications for Human Disease
Luis Lafer-Sousa, 14, San Antonio, Texas
Finalist, Discovery Channel Young Scientist Challenge, 2003
Project background: While watching television, Luis saw an ad for a skincare product containing copper. He knew that the idea behind the product was legitimate because copper can cross-link proteins such as collagen to cause them to clump together and, in this case, make skin look firmer. However, the lotion would cause other proteins to clump as well. This is a problem because protein aggregation is linked to motor neuron diseases and cataracts. Luis decided to test metals found in cosmetics to see what kind of effects they have on various proteins.
Tactics and results: At the drug store, Luis found a hair dye containing lead acetate and another with hydrogen peroxide, as well as the lotion containing copper. With the use of machines at a lab, the chemicals were extracted from the products. These chemicals were mixed with three different proteins—one each from cows, bacteria, and chickens.
Luis discovered that each chemical did cause protein aggregation—sometimes at high levels—demonstrating that the metals in cosmetics could lead to an increased risk of a disease caused by protein aggregation.
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