(19-10-14) Certain skin creams found to have mercury levels hundreds of thousands times

Certain skin creams found to have mercury levels hundreds of thousands times
higher than FDA-approved limits
by Antonia

(NaturalNews) Concern over the levels of mercury in certain skin creams was
discussed during the recent American Chemical Society National Meeting and
Exposition in California, where Dr. Gordon Vrdoljak of the California
Department of Public Health noted that he's discovered levels that are hundreds
of thousands times higher than the FDA limit. (1)

"The limits for mercury in face creams is about one part per million," he says
of the FDA-accepted levels in the United States. (1) However, Dr. Vrdoljak
discovered that some skin creams in the United States far exceed this number,
finding many to have mercury levels that were upwards of 210,000 parts per
million. (2)

Skin creams, namely skin-lightening ones designed to combat the signs of aging
and reduce wrinkles, freckles and age spots, can have serious health
consequences. Dr. Vrdoljak says that products containing these higher levels of
mercury wreak havoc on health and can even lead to death, since mercury is
linked to causing neurological problems and kidney disease. (1)

Furthermore, they are not entirely effective; he says that "these things come
back," referring to skin conditions treated with these iffy, mercury-laden
products.

Third-party sources likely culprit in supply of dangerous face creams
He cites use of products from "third-party sources," such as bringing products
back from overseas or purchasing creams from questionable, non-dermatologist
sources, as a reason that is likely behind the higher levels of some skin
creams found in the United States. (1)

In Northern California, a 39-year old woman who was using an unlabeled mercury-
containing face cream brought into the United States from Mexico by a relative
had over 100 times the average amount of mercury in her urine, coupled with
mercury-poisoning symptoms. (3) The woman had been using the product for three
years.

Dr. Vrdoljak also says that differences between ethnic markets and ever-
changing standards about beauty come into play and may explain why more people
are inclined to use products from outside of the United States. (1)

How to avoid harmful skin creams
The FDA warns against such use, urging people to be aware of the difference
between how a product may be promoted and what it's legally approved to do for
an individual, suggesting that people take notice of and avoid package wording
such as "mercurous chloride," "mercury," "mercuric," "calomel" and "mercurio."
(3)

The FDA also suggests refraining from online purchase of such products, since
many are made overseas and then sold in the United States illegally.

Mercury is one of the most toxic elements which Dr. Vrdoljak says can be
absorbed into the body via application on the skin, as well as transferred by
touch. (1) Rubbing the face and then rubbing eyes or eating foods that have
been touched by contaminated skin are just a couple of examples of how easy it
is for it to spread, and it can even be passed to other family members who
don't use the product. (1, 3)

Sources:

(1) http://www.ustream.tv

(2) http://www.treehugger.com

(3) http://www.fda.gov

http://science.naturalnews.com

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In evidenza

"L'informazione presente nel sito serve a migliorare, e non a sostituire, il rapporto medico-paziente."

Per coloro che hanno problemi di salute si consiglia di consultare sempre il proprio medico curante.