This study compared the chemical properties of the indigenous Nigerian soaps with the conventional soaps in order to determine whether or not they met acceptable standards. The locally made soaps were obtained from markets in Ile-Ife, Osun State and Okitipupa, Ondo State, Nigeria. The soap samples were acid digested and trace metals (Cd, Pb, Cu, Zn, and Hg) in the digested samples were profiled using Atomic Absorption Spectrometry. Documented techniques were adopted to analyze the soaps for pH, moisture content, free fatty acid, chloride content, free caustic alkali, matters insoluble in water and ethanol. The margin of safety (MoS) and hazard index (HI) associated with the use of the soaps were also evaluated. The locally made soaps had higher physicochemical properties than the conventional soaps. Mercury (Hg) had the highest concentration in the locally made soaps ranging from 106.50 ± 0.23–273.58 ± 0.49 μg/g and 46.35 ± 0.22–55.12 ± 0.65 μg/g in the conventional soaps, while Cd had the least concentration in the locally made soaps ranging from 2.95 ± 0.45–6.05 ± 0.60 μg/g and 2.88 ± 0.11–5.20 ± 0.60 μg/g in the conventional soaps. Although highly mercuric soaps are known to kill bacteria and fungi, the observed MoS (<100) and HI (>1) indicated that the soaps might be safe if only restricted to occasional use by adults and children. A careful preliminary investigation and selection of the raw materials used in the production of indigenous soaps should be considered a necessary step.

这项研究将尼日利亚本土肥皂与传统肥皂的化学性质进行了比较，以确定它们是否符合可接受的标准。当地制造的肥皂是从尼日利亚奥森州伊莱-伊夫和尼日利亚翁多州奥基蒂帕的市场获得的。酸洗肥皂样品，并使用原子吸收光谱分析消解样品中的痕量金属（Cd，Pb，Cu，Zn和Hg）。采用文献记载的技术分析肥皂的pH，水分，游离脂肪酸，氯化物，游离碱，不溶于水和乙醇的物质。还评估了与肥皂使用相关的安全边际（MoS）和危险指数（HI）。本地制造的肥皂具有比常规肥皂更高的理化特性。本地肥皂中的汞含量最高，范围为106.50±0.23–273.58±0.49μg/ g和传统肥皂中的46.35±0.22–55.12±0.65μg/ g，而Cd在本地肥皂中的浓度最低常规肥皂的皂度范围为2.95±0.45–6.05±0.60μg/ g和2.88±0.11–5.20±0.60μg/ g。尽管已知高汞肥皂能杀死细菌和真菌，但观察到的MoS（<100）和HI（> 1）表明，如果仅限于成人和儿童偶尔使用，肥皂可能是安全的。认真的初步调查和选择用于生产天然肥皂的原料应被认为是必要的步骤。在传统肥皂中，镉在本地肥皂中的浓度最低，范围为2.95±0.45–6.05±0.60μg/ g和2.88±0.11–5.20±0.60μg/ g。尽管已知高汞肥皂能杀死细菌和真菌，但观察到的MoS（<100）和HI（> 1）表明，如果仅限于成人和儿童偶尔使用，肥皂可能是安全的。认真的初步调查和选择用于生产天然肥皂的原料应被认为是必要的步骤。在传统肥皂中，镉在本地肥皂中的浓度最低，范围为2.95±0.45–6.05±0.60μg/ g和2.88±0.11–5.20±0.60μg/ g。尽管已知高汞肥皂能杀死细菌和真菌，但观察到的MoS（<100）和HI（> 1）表明，如果仅限于成人和儿童偶尔使用，肥皂可能是安全的。认真的初步调查和选择用于生产天然肥皂的原料应被认为是必要的步骤。1）指出，仅限于成人和儿童偶尔使用，这种肥皂才是安全的。认真的初步调查和选择用于生产天然肥皂的原料应被认为是必要的步骤。1）指出，仅限于成人和儿童偶尔使用，这种肥皂才是安全的。认真的初步调查和选择用于生产天然肥皂的原料应被认为是必要的步骤。