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LOMA LINDA, CALIFORNIA. Skin lightening or whitening is done globally through the
use of cosmetic products which are readily available in stores and the internet.
A recent study from Loma Linda University School of Medicine examined the mer
cury content of 549 such products. It was found that 6% contained mercury above
1000 parts per million (ppm) and among those products containing this toxin,
45% had levels above 10,000 ppm. The FDA limits the amount of mercury in
cosmetics to 1 ppm, yet for US samples tested, 3.3 % contained mercury in
excess of 1000 ppm. Absorption through the skin can at the least increase
the body mercury load, and at worst, cause frank mercury poisoning, as was
reported in 2000.
Hamann CR, Boonchai W, Wen L et al. Spectrometric analysis of mercury
content in 549 skin-lightening products: Is mercury toxicity a hidden
global health hazard? J Am Acad Dermatol. 2014;70:281-287
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