No to toxic cosmetics in Baguio

Mercury in skin lightening products may also cause skin rashes, skin discoloration and scarring, as well as a reduction in the skin’s resistance to bacterial and fungal infections

The local government of Baguio City was urged to stop the unabated sale of cosmetics that are found to have high concentrations of mercury and lead.

A non-government environmental group has notified the Baguio City government yesterday about the unlawful sale of whitening products in malls in Baguio that contain mercury ranging from 970 to 23,700 parts per million (ppm) and lipsticks that contain lead from 167 to 42,800 ppm.

The whitening products: Goree, Jiaoli and S’Zitang had already been banned in 2017 due to their mercury content.

As confirmed by the World Health Organization (WHO), “mercury-containing skin lightening products are hazardous to health.”

According to the WHO, the main adverse effect of the inorganic mercury contained in skin lightening soaps and creams is kidney damage.

Mercury in skin lightening products may also cause skin rashes, skin discoloration and scarring, as well as a reduction in the skin’s resistance to bacterial and fungal infections.

Lead, meanwhile is a cumulative toxicant that affects multiple body systems and is particularly harmful to young children, according to WHO.

Exposure to lead has also been linked to reproductive health issues such as hormonal changes, menstrual irregularities, delays in the onset of puberty, reduced fertility in both men and women and miscarriage.

The Baguio city government was also urged to consider enacting an ordinance that will ban the manufacture, importation, distribution and sale of mercury-containing skin whitening cosmetics.