Skin whitening creams with high levels of mercury sold in QC stalls – EcoWaste

MANILA, Philippines — An environment group has alerted the public to imported beauty whitening creams, most of which have been banned by the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA), for causing mercury poisoning but are still being sold in Quezon City bargain shops.

Ecowaste Coalition’s AlerToxic Patrol found nine imported beauty products containing high levels of mercury sold in discount shops and stalls at malls in the Cubao, Commonwealth, Fairview and Novaliches areas and urged the government to immediately remove them from the market.

While six of the products have been banned by the FDA, three whitening creams — one of which contains the highest level of mercury at 63,800 parts per million (ppm) — have not been included in the regulatory body’s list of 77 mercury-laden skin whitening products.

In test buys conducted by Ecowaste from June 19 to June 21 at tiangge stalls selling food supplements, herbal medicine and personal care products around Quezon City, the group was able to purchase blemish removal creams, which exceeded the allowable limit of one ppm of mercury in cosmetics and were banned by the FDA in 2011 and 2012.

Ecowaste was able to buy at prices ranging from P100 to P285 several of the banned products including: Yudantang Green Cucumber and Ginseng 6 Days Specific Eliminating Freckle Whitening Cream; Pretty Model Whitening and Freckle Removing Day and Night Cream; S’Zitang 7 Days Specific Eliminating Freckle AB Set; Jiaoli Miraculous Cream; Jiaoli 7 Days Specific Eliminating Freckle AB Set; and Miss Beauty Excellent Therapy Whitening Cream.

Using an x-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectrometer, the group detected 63,800 ppm of mercury in one product, which has not been included in the FDA’s banned items. Two other products, having mercury levels at 43,300 ppm and at 12,400 ppm, are also not on the list.

In a statement, Ecowaste acting national coordinator Aileen Lucero said, “By all accounts, the illicit trade of mercury-laced cosmetics has gone rampant and dangerously out of control despite government efforts. National and local authorities undeniably need to flex their muscles, hold illegal importers, distributors and vendors criminally liable, and uphold the consumer right to product safety.”

She added, “The violation of the people’s right to health under the guise of fairer complexion and flawless beauty, affecting mostly poor to middle-class women consumers, is intolerable.”

According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), exposure to high levels of mercury in cosmetic products can cause skin rashes (contact dermatitis and acne venenata), skin discoloration and scarring (post inflammatory dyschromia), and can reduce the skin’s resistance to bacterial and mycotic skin disorders.

The UNEP further warned, “Direct and prolonged exposure through the skin during repeated applications can cause damage to the brain, nervous system and kidneys.”