Anti-toxics group warns vs 5 more skin whiteners with poisonous mercury

At least five more skin whiteners have been found with toxic levels of mercury, an ecological group said over the weekend.

 

The EcoWaste Coalition said this is despite the Food and Drug Administration's recent expansion of its black list of cosmetics products to 71.

 

“We have promptly alerted the FDA about our findings urging the agency to take immediate action to warn consumers and decisively halt the illegal sale of these cosmetics to protect the public health and the environment,” said campaigner Aileen Lucero.

 

The group said it found five products to have "outrageous" amounts of mercury, with one having up to 26,700 parts per million (ppm) - way above the government’s limit of 1 ppm.

 

Earlier, the FDA placed up to 71 cosmetic products on its black list after finding them to have highly toxic levels of mercury.

 

According to the group, it bought the new samples with prices ranging from P70 to P250 last Dec. 8 from Chinese medicine stores, health and beauty shops in Baclaran, Cubao and Guadalupe.

 

It said the tainted products included:

 

- “Natural Orange Whitening and Anti-Aging Package” claiming “all-natural botanical formula” tested with the highest level of mercury at 22,300 ppm for the day cream, and 26,700 ppm for the night cream. The label purportedly shows GLDJB (Harbin) Cosmetics Co., Ltd. as the manufacturer, but failed to mention the country of manufacture.

 

- “Spring Return Ginseng and Pearl Natural Pure Plants Whitening Cream,” allegedly from New York, USA, had 10,900 ppm of mercury in its night cream. The packaging provided no details about the manufacturer. 

 

- “TVC Spot Remover,” reportedly from Mexico but “made in PRC” had 10,100 ppm of mercury. No information about the manufacturer is given on the label.

 

- “Yudantang Green Olive and Papaya Natural Essence 6 Days Specific Eliminating Freckle Whitening Sun Block Cream,” supposedly from Taiwan, had 8,391 ppm of mercury in the night cream. 

 

- “Fruit & Lovely Quickacting Whitener & Speckle Remover Package,” which has zero information about its manufacturer, had 192 ppm for the day cream and 628 ppm for the night cream.   

 

EcoWaste Coalition warned consumers against being directly exposed to cosmetic products containing more than 1 ppm of mercury run the risk of possible toxicity.

 

It cited the FDA's health advisory indicating “there have been cases of adverse health effects brought about by highly toxic mercury in cosmetic products, such as kidney damage, skin rashes, skin discoloration and scarring.” --ELR, GMA News