Mercury found on skin products

By Che Palicte
Here’s a warning to those who are crazy for vanity. The cosmetics you are using could be dangerous to your skin.
Several cosmetic products which were not approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have reportedly entered the Philippine market. They were found to contain a high level of toxic mercury and had been banned in the Philippines months ago.
Deborah Legaspi, FDA supervisor, told Edge Davao yesterday that the products are highly toxic if they contain more than the allowable limit of one part per million (ppm) of mercury.
“We did a sampling of these products and we found out that they exceeded the allowable limit for mercury,” she said.
She bared the following cosmetic products which contain excessive levels of mercury: Fruit and Lovely Quickacting Whitener and Speckle Remover package; 6 Days Specific Eliminating Freckle Whitening Sun Block Cream, and Green Olive and Papaya Natural Essence, both manufactured by Yudanting International Cosmetic Group Co.; Spring Return Ginseng and Pearl Natural Pure Plants Whitening Cream which is a product from New York, USA; TVC Spot Remover Cream manufactured by The Products from Opbiacus Internatiocionais de Mexico;  Natural Orange Whitening and Anti-Aging Package, both manufacrtured by GLDJB (Harbin) Cosmetics Co. Ltd; and Yoko whitening Cream with SPF-15, manufactured by Siam Yoko Co. Ltd.
She added that mercury in cosmetic products inhibits the formation of melanin in the skin, resulting in a lighter skin tone and there had been cases of adverse health effects brought about by highly toxic mercury in this product.
Legaspi said that absorption of high level of mercury in a short period of time may lead to severe gastroenteritis, burning mouth pain, salivation, abdominal pain, vomiting, colitis, nephrosis and anuria.
She added that local government units (LGUs) and enforcement agencies must coordinate with FDA to apprehend vendors or outlets found selling the highly toxic cosmetic products to prevent further exposure to consumers and to protect the environment.
 “We will continue to monitor outlets selling these products in order to stop the rampant distribution of all of these,” she explained.