Slow Poison
A woman in Minnesota, US, lost her vision, permanently, due to mercury poisoning, the source of which were skin whitening beauty creams of the best brands. The authorities found high levels of mercury in her bedding, household towels and laundry area
WHILE THE MOST COMMON SYMPTOMS FROM POTENTIAL MERCURY POISONING IS TINGLING OR NUMBNESS IN HANDS OR FEET, THE MINNESOTA WOMAN’S LOSS OF VISION IS BEING DESCRIBED AS A MORE EXTREME AND PERMANENT SYMPTOM, FROM WHICH SHE WILL NEVER RECOVER. SHE AND HER CHILD EXPERIENCED HEIGHTENED LEVELS OF MERCURY IN THEIR URINE, LEADING TO SIGNIFICANT HEALTH COMPLICATIONS
THE AGENCY FOUND THE AMOUNT OF MERCURY IN TWO OF THE SKIN WHITENING BEAUTY CREAMS TO BE SEVERAL THOUSAND TIMES HIGHER THAN THE PERMITTED LEVELS OF 1 PART PER MILLION (PPM) IN COSMETICS. TESTS OF THE BEAUTY CREAMS REVEALED HIGH LEVELS OF MERCURY OF 11,000 AND 18,000PPM.
It’s a poison you can’t see or smell but it could well be out there all over your home, harming you and your family slow and steady. What’s worse is that none may be aware that it exists, not even after suffering from a range of health issues leading to loss of vision or perhaps death.
All the women out there, who are using the best of the beauty creams available in the world to look prettier — might actually be poisoning themselves.
While the harmful effects of using beauty products is well known, a recent case in Minnesota, US has introduced the world to a deadlier side of use of beauty creams — mercury poisoning. She lost part of her vision and inadvertently put her entire household at risk of mercury poisoning which came from the use of beauty creams, containing high levels of the toxic chemical. Before you reach out to beauty cream — even if it’s the best — think again. “Mercury compounds are used in cosmetics particularly in whitening creams in Eastern countries, African countries and other parts of the globe. Though it is not seen commonly in our country but importing of products or purchasing foreign cosmetics may
WHILE THE HARMFUL EFFECTS OF USING BEAUTY PRODUCTS IS WELL KNOWN, A RECENT CASE IN MINNESOTA, USA, HAS INTRODUCED THE WORLD TO A DEADLIER SIDE OF USE OF BEAUTY CREAMS — MERCURY POISONING. SHE LOST PART OF HER VISION AND INADVERTENTLY PUT HER ENTIRE HOUSEHOLD AT RISK OF MERCURY POISONING WHICH CAME FROM THE USE OF BEAUTY CREAMS, CONTAINING HIGH LEVELS OF THE TOXIC CHEMICAL
pose a problem in the long run,” says Dr Rajya
Lakshmi, Senior Consultant Dermatologist, Apollo Hospitals, Secunderabad.
Inorganic mercury-containing products have been found in the form of creams, serums, body lotions, blemish balms, bleaches, emulsions, gels, liquids, powders, deodorants etc. “These substances inhibit melanin production on skin and hence used by many people. On prolonged exposure, it can adversely affect circulatory, urinary, reproductive and neurological functions of the body,” she explains.
According to Dr Rajya Lakshmi, the side effects on the skin is influenced by various factors like amount applied on skin, absorption kinetics, skin sensitisation and frequency. In the case of the woman in US, the authorities found high levels of mercury in her children's bedrooms, bedding, household towels and laundry area. She reported an array of symptoms, ranging from insomnia and leg pain to fatigue and, eventually, the loss of peripheral vision. Clinical tests revealed elevated levels of mercury in blood and urine.
“Mercury is volatile, odourless and tasteless chemical. Ingested mercury is not significantly absorbed with the GI tract but inhaled mercury is completely absorbed through respiratory tract,” cautions Dr. Praveen Kumar
Kulkarni, Senior consultant physician and diabetologist at KIMS Hospital. Methyl mercury is a toxin that influences the enzymes, cell membrane function and neuron delivery material causing Oxidative injury to tissue, he explains.
“Acute poisoning leads to lungs symptoms, headache, blurred vision, encephalopathy, cardiac and renal symptoms leading to death too,” he warns.
What is alarming is a warning that there are many people who are likely exposed to toxic levels of mercury but are not showing symptoms. “Diagnosis of Mercury poisoning is
aided by determination of mercury level in whole blood, 24 hours urine sample and hairs. Blood levels are best marker for acute while hairs are the best specimen for chronic exposure,” informs Sr Kulkarni, adding that treatment involves discontinuing the exposure, chelating agent and supportive management.
Dr Rajya Lakshmi suggests awareness among consumers about potential risks of mercury compounds on
skin, to prevent mercury poisoning.
CHRONIC EXPOSURE CAUSE DERMATITIS, LOOSENING OF TEETH, GINGIVITIS, SALIVATION, TREMOR & NEUROPSYCHIATRIC MANIFESTATION LIKE LOSS OF APETITE, INSOMNIA, LOSS OF SELF CONTROL BESIDES MEMORY LOSS
— DR PRAVEEN KUMAR KULKARNI, Senior consultant physician and diabetologist
“MERCURY COMPOUNDS ARE USED IN COSMETICS PARTICULARLY IN WHITENING CREAMS IN EASTERN COUNTRIES, AFRICAN COUNTRIES AND OTHER PARTS OF THE GLOBE. THOUGH IT IS NOT SEEN COMMONLY IN OUR COUNTRY BUT IMPORTING OF PRODUCTS OR PURCHASING FOREIGN COSMETICS MAY POSE A PROBLEM IN THE LONG RUN”
— DR RAJYA LAKSHMI, Senior Consultant Dermatologist