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The Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) has found dangerously high levels of mercury in eight brands of skin-whitening creams sold in the local market and urged consumers to stop using the products due to serious health risks.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the national standards body said the sale, distribution, storage and use of the affected creams should be discontinued in the interest of public health.
Under the Bangladesh Standard (BDS-1382), the maximum permissible mercury content in skin creams is 1.00 parts per million (ppm). Laboratory tests, however, found mercury concentrations dozens of times above the legal limit in all eight products.
The highest mercury level was detected in Dew Beauty Cream, manufactured by Pakistan’s Creative Cosmetics, at 123.37 ppm.
The other products found to contain excessive mercury are:Chandni Whitening Cream (S.J. Enterprise, Pakistan) – 120.39 ppm, Noor Whitening Cream (Noor Enterprise, Pakistan) – 82.76 ppm, Navia Whitening Cream (Loya International, Pakistan) – 79.70 ppm, Natural Pearl Skin Cream (GLDJB Cosmetics, China) – 67.49 ppm, Navia Beauty Cream (Loya International, Pakistan) – 59.82 ppm, Goree Beauty Cream (Goree Cosmetics, Pakistan) – 56.93 ppm, New Face Beauty Cream (QCI Company, Pakistan) – 44.72 ppm
BSTI said prolonged use of mercury-contaminated cosmetics may damage the skin’s natural protective barrier and lead to skin thinning, permanent pigmentation, allergic reactions, severe kidney damage and neurological complications.
The agency also warned that exposure to mercury through such products during pregnancy could adversely affect fetal development.
BSTI urged consumers, importers, distributors and retailers to immediately stop the sale, distribution, storage and use of the identified products to safeguard public health.