A national group is warning consumers about potentially dangerous types of Halloween makeup.

A nonprofit group called the Ecology Center ran tests and found that folks who use certain types of Halloween makeup this season could be risking damage to their lungs, kidney and bones. The group tested 31 types of novelty make up and found that half of them contained cadmium. Cadmium is a naturally occurring metal that is unsafe at different levels. The group is calling for parents to err on the side of caution and use homemade or organic Halloween makeup instead.

The results of the study were posted Oct. 26 at www.HealthyStuff.org.

The study looked for heavy metals such as cadmium, mercury, lead and chromium in Halloween makeup. Products tested were purchased from retailers in southeast Michigan, including Target, Halloween City, Party City and Spirit Halloween.

Channel 4 took a look at some face paints available in local Halloween stores. One product made by Spirit states that it contains chromium oxide on the label, but not cadmium.

"I'm not going to wear it long enough to worry about it to be honest with you. I am not too concerned," said consumer Chris McCormick.

Many of the people Channel 4 spoke with Thursday night weren't concerned about any dangerous heavy metals in their Halloween makeup.

"No, we always buy makeup, every year. They only wear it a few hours, if that, because they end up wiping it off ," said local mother, Tracy Williams. "So no, that doesn’t concern me. ”

The study conducted by the Ecology Center also found:

• One in two (52 percent) Halloween makeup productstested contained detectable levels of cadmium. The maximum level of cadmium detected was 455 parts per million.
• 100 percent of products contained chromium
• Other metals detected include: arsenic, 29 percent (9 of 31); tin, 52 percent (16 of 31); antimony 16 percent (5 of 31); mercury 13 percent (4 of 31) and lead 3 percent (1of 31).
  
• The highest levels of cadmium, mercury, arsenic and antimony all exceeded the Health Canada draft Guidance on Heavy Metal Impurities in Cosmetics.
  
• Chemicals may be present at levels lower than the detection limit. Cosmetics also contain other ingredients that were tested for and which may be hazardous.