ABSTRACT
Background: Soaps and Detergents are tools for maintaining personal and environmental hygiene thus helps in the protection from harmful bacteria and dirt.
Objective: This study assessed the compliance of some soaps and liquid detergents in sold Lagos, Nigeria to the Nigerian Industrial Standard (NIS) specification of 2006 and 2010 for medicated soaps.
Methods: Toilet (A, B, C, D E), laundry (F, G, H, I), medicated (J, K, L), black (M, N, O) soaps and liquid detergents (P, Q) were purchased from local markets in Lagos, Nigeria. All parameters stipulated for soaps were determined as specified in the test method for soaps by the Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON) in the NIS.
Results: Apart from Samples D, G and J which had total fatty matter (TFM) values of 65.14%, 53.34% and 24.50% respectively, TFM of other soaps complied with the NIS specifications of 50%, 62% and 70% for black laundry, toilet and medicated soaps respectively. The results of this study showed that all liquid detergent parameters complied with their standard values save for inorganic matter and insoluble matter in water while only five of fifteen different soap brands complied with NIS specification.. No liquid detergent showed no compliance.
Conclusion: Many of the soaps and detergents studied from the Nigeria market did not conform to the minimum standard recommended by SON therefore regular quality check and enforcement by regulatory agents should be carried out to ensure the quality of soaps meets the minimum required standard.
KEY WORDS: Analysis, Specification, compliance, parameters, soap, detergent.
