Study reveals dangerous levels of mercury in 34 skin-lightening creams

A new study released at the weekend by the Zero Mercury Working Group (ZMWG) ahead of the second meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Minamata Convention on mercury that kicked off in Geneva, Switzerland on Monday November 19, 2018 indicates that a significant percentage of skin-lightening creams sold worldwide contain dangerous levels of mercury.
The study, tagged “Mercury Skin-Lightening Creams: Available, Inexpensive and Toxic,” was authored by Andreas Provodnik, Sweden Society for Nature Conservation; Anita Willcox, European Environmental Bureau; Elena Lymberidi-Settimo, European Environmental Bureau; Michael Bender, Mercury Policy Project; Oksana Lane, and Biodiversity Research Institute.
Essentially, the study revealed that in 2017 and 2018, 338 skin-lightening creams from 22 countries were collected by seventeen non-governmental organisations (NGO) from around the world and tested for mercury. 34 creams (10% of the samples) had mercury concentrations ranging from 93-16,353 parts per million (ppm).
According to the report, “These levels significantly exceeded not only the legal standard established by countries that regulate these products, but also the provisions set forth in the Minamata Convention disallowing after 2020 the “manufacture, import or export” of cosmetics with a mercury content above 1ppm. In Bangladesh, almost 50% of the creams sampled and tested had mercury content exceeding 1ppm. In the Dominican Republic and Indonesia it reached 33% and 31% respectively. In Mauritius one out of 15 creams was found to contain more than 1ppm (7%). 19% of the Philippines’ samples exceeded 1ppm mercury content, while the Thai samples reached 63% and in Trinidad and Tobago, 20% of the samples tested also exceeded the Minamata Convention limits.
“Sampling was carried out following established protocol in 2017 and further streamlined in 2018. Mercury is well known to international agencies as toxic and a risk to human health. Regular use of skin bleaching or skin-lightening creams and soaps containing mercury can lead to rashes, skin discoloration and blotching. Long-term exposure can have serious health consequences, including damage to the skin, eyes, lungs, kidneys, digestive, immune and nervous systems. 3 Out of the 22 countries where sampling took place, 15 have legislation or other requirements consistent with the Minamata Convention provisions. Out of the 7 countries where high mercury samples were found, only 4 have legal requirements prohibiting creams with more than 1ppm mercury content.
“ Our research demonstrates that hazardous substance restrictions and accompanying risk communication strategies in many countries are incomplete and/or inadequately enforced, thereby raising the risk of health effects, primarily to women. As countries strive to comply with the 1ppm mercury content cutoff provision pertaining to cosmetics in the Minamata Convention on Mercury, a range of measures are available to reduce exposure to mercury from skin lighteners, including renewed opportunities for collaboration with all levels of government and civil society: 1) New laws or regulations. The Minamata Convention’s ban on the manufacture, import and export of mercury-added skin products after 2020 may result in adoption of new national legislation and enforcement programs. Local ordinances can also play an effective role in targeting specific venues of production and sales, raising awareness and promoting measures that can protect consumers. 2) Better enforcement. Government officials, and in particular customs officers, should be provided with the training and resources to control their national market and intercept cosmetics that violate the Convention, as most may be imported. Several relatively simple and efficient screening technologies can be used to screen products for mercury. The report presents measurement protocols for the X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectrometer or analyzer.
The report concluded that as first step, the 34 creams found to exceed the 1ppm mercury limit should immediately be removed from the market. Adding that with the Minamata Convention’s provisions on cosmetics soon to enter into force, a range of measures are emerging to end mercury use in these products, and to reduce the health risks of skin lighteners, including promising opportunities for collaboration between various levels of government and civil society.
Mercury is well known to international agencies as toxic and a risk to human health. Regular use of skin bleaching or skin-lightening creams and soaps can have serious health consequences, including damage to the skin, eyes, lungs, kidneys, digestive, immune and nervous systems.
Governments, United Nations agencies, media and non-governmental organisations are meeting in Geneva, Switzerland for a week long second meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Minamata Convention on mercury.