Dark secret: Mercury in that fairness cream WHO Warning Says Metal Can Harm Kidneys

Kounteya Sinha TNN 

New Delhi: Can't get enough of your new body lotion that makes your skin so much softer? Unfortunately, applying them could be causing your body serious damages. 

    The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a warning against skin lightening soaps, creams and cosmetics like eye makeup, cleansing products and mascara, saying they may contain mercury. 

    The warning is serious, especially for Indians, as WHO said 61% of the dermatological market here consists of skin lightening products. WHO said the serious adverse effects of inorganic mercury — a common ingredient found in skin lightening soaps and creams — includes kidney damage, reduction in the skin's resistance to bacterial and fungal infections, anxiety, depression or psychosis and also peripheral neuropathy. 

    WHO pointed out that mercury in soaps and creams is discharged into wastewater. It then enters the environment, where it becomes methylated, and enters the food chain as highly toxic methylmercury in fish. Pregnant women who eat fish containing methylmercury transfer the mercury to their foetuses that can later result in neurological deficits in children. 

    "Most jurisdictions still allow the sale of makeup products containing mercury compounds. The soaps contain approximately 1-3% mercury iodide, and the creams are composed of 1-10% mercury ammonium," WHO said. It said, "The amount of mercury in a product may be labelled on the packaging or in the ingredient list. Names to look for include mercury, Hg, mercuric iodide, mercurous chloride, ammoniated mercury, amide chloride of mercury, quicksilver, cinnabaris (mercury sulfide)." 

Unfairness of it all 

• WHO says skin lightening soaps, creams and cosmetics like eye makeup, cleansing products and mascara may contain mercury, which is highly toxic 

• In India, 61% of the dermatological market consists of skin lightening products 

• When skin products are dischared in the evironment, mercury enters the food chain as toxic methylmercury in fish. It can result in neurological deficits in children