Decontamination of Some Cosmetic Products and Raw Materials by Irradiation and its Effect on Their Organoleptic, Chemical and Physical Properties

This study was achieved to use gamma irradiation for decontamination of some available cosmetic products and raw materials in Egypt in order to reduce their microbial counts to the acceptable limits. The total bacterial counts of the tested samples ranged between < 10 - 3x107 CFU/g or ml and the total fungal and yeast count ranged between 10 - 4x103 CFU/g or ml. Irradiation dose of 7.5 kGy was effective in eliminating the radioresistant Bacillus cereus from the tested samples. Irradiation dose of 5, 7.5, 10 and 12 kGy had no changes in the organoleptic properties of the tested samples. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) study was carried out on the most heavily contaminated samples before and after irradiation at 7.5 kGy and no by-products was detected. Also, the transmission electron microscopy of irradiated raw materials indicated that there were no significant changes in their mean particle size.