Environmental groups say dangerous levels of mercury found in skin creams

Over 50 environmental and public health groups, including US-based Environmental Working Group (EWG), have called on ecommerce giants like Amazon and eBay to remove illegal skin care products containing dangerous levels of mercury.

According to EWG, the products, purchased and tested by the Mercury Policy Project, in some cases contained as much as 30,000-ppm (parts per million) of mercury – an astounding 30,000 times the legal limit of 1-ppm set by the US Food and Drug Administration.

Mercury exposure can cause kidney damage, skin rashes, skin discoloration and scarring, as well as a reduction in the skin’s resistance to infections. These health risks aren’t limited to people who use skin products containing mercury. Mercury vapours can get into the AIR and cause harm to other people and even pets. People can also be exposed by touching washcloths or skin that has come in contact with one of these products. Babies and children are especially at risk of harm because of their developing brain and nervous systems.

Mercury is used in cosmetics as a skin lightening agent and preservative. Cosmetics with mercury are often marketed as skin lightening creams and anti-aging treatments that remove age spots, freckles, blemishes and wrinkles. Adolescents sometimes use these products as acne treatments.

Manufacturers selling products that contain mercury often do not label their products. Companies that do may use any of the following names: mercury, Hg, mercuric iodide, mercurous chloride, ammoniated mercury, amide chloride of mercury, quicksilver, cinnabaris (mercury sulphide), hydrargyri oxydum rubrum (mercury oxide), or mercury iodide. Directions to avoid contact with silver, Gold, rubber, Aluminium, and jewellery could also indicate the presence of mercury. Marketers of these products tend to target the Asian, African, Latino and Middle Eastern communities, EWG said.

The USFDA banned the use of mercury in most cosmetics at levels higher than 1-ppm in 1973. The agency has investigated skin-lightening creams and also created an import alert for skin whitening creams containing mercury, which allows USFDA agents to detain certain products at the border.